Chapter 10

Sorry for those who are waiting for the chapter. I lost track of time...

If I have any grammar error or misspellings (Pretty sure there will be), feel free to point them out.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. Enjoy!

After putting out the fire before it started to spread, the - now - group of three made their way out of Santalune Forest, courtesy of Serena's Arcanine.

"Slow down!" Austin whined, grabbing the Canine Pokemon's mane tighter as his face was buried within his fury. Serena rolled her eyes but didn't tell her fire type to slow down his pace. She didn't want to waste more time in the forest more than she already have. Besides, she have an injured Pokemon that needed to be treated in the Pokemon Center as fast as possible and a woman that needs medical attention because she passed out.

Serena couldn't help but feel calming to have the bypassing wind caress her face as she rode on Arcanine. It was as if her worries were gone with the wind, leaving her with peace. How she did not miss this sensation, she haven't a clue in the world.

Arcanine, despite being completely new to the Kalos region, knew the way out thanks to Austin's scent. Being a Pokemon with a great sense of smell, he can pick up the tiniest fragrance of aroma that distinguishes it from others, which was helping to guide him and his passengers out of the forest.

"We're here." Arcanine informed as he slowed to a stop in the city streets. Serena took notice of Arcanine's decreasing speed as the hint that they arrived.

Compared to Lumiose City, Santalune was the ideal spot to relax, judging by the structure of the houses and the refreshing air surround the area. Add in the lush greenery from the trees, bushes, flowers, patches of grass along with cafe that have tables set up outside, and a large fountain in the shape of a Roselia with gushing water spewing out of both rose - like hands to top it off, it gave off an air of peacefulness - for the lack of a better word. There were also public benches built around the city, giving the citizens a place to rest and just watch the scenery.

Of course, Serena didn't bother to take all of this in, even after the chaos that ensued in Santalune Forest.

"Where's the hospital?" the brunette inquired in slight urgency.

Austin, finally realized that they stopped, lifted his head up and turn his head back and forth. "We're in Santalune City?"

Serena resisted the urge to facepalm and nodded curtly before repeating her question. She needed to get Viola to the hospital, drop off the youngster to who-knows-where, and then go to the Pokemon Center to heal her Pokemon.

"Er..." Austin whacked his brain for the directions before pointing West. They followed Austin's directions and arrived to the hospital to have Viola checked up on.

Serena then told Austin to stay put to watch over the Santalune Gym Leader while she head to the Pokemon Center.

Once she got to the Pokemon Center, she gave her pokeballs to Nurse Joy and then checked the time. If she keeps going on detours, she'll be arriving to Lumiose City by nightfall. At least the city wasn't that far away, just a route to pass through and from what Serena heard, that route was more of a garden so she don't have to be wary of Pokemon attacks.

While her Pokemon heals from the trip, Serena didn't know what else to do while she waited.

"Might as well go back to check on Viola," she muttered. She didn't want to bother with something like that since she was in a rush to see how Prof. Sycamore was doing but the doctor told them to stay until the Gym Leader wakes up.

Serena was already tired as it is but ironically, she was restless. She got to the hospital, only to see Austin talking to some lady with brown hair with some strands collected into a tuft that protrudes from her forehead. She has green eyes and pale skin. The woman wore a tight black and red shirt, and the collar and cuffs are white. She also wears tight gray pants, brown boots and a fanny pack worn on the waist.

"Oh hey!" Austin piped when he noticed Serena's entrance. "You're back!"

He turned to the woman he was talking to and pointed at Serena. "She's the one I was talking about."

The woman nodded and walk forward towards Serena. "Hi there, my name's Alexa, a report for Lumiose Press and Viola's older sister."

"... Serena." the brunette hesitated.

"Hey! How come you tell her your name but you don't tell me?!" Austin complained childishly.

Serena rolled her eyes but didn't reply. Alexa chuckled, though oblivious to Serena's eye roll. "Austin here told me that you're the one that saved my sister, is that right?"

If he told you already, why bother asking me? Serena thought abrasively. "Yes."

"Then let me thank you for helping her," Alexa said gratefully. "I was in town just today when I got a call from the hospital that informed me of my sister's situation. You don't know how frantic I became! But I'm so glad that you two were there to help her!"

"Aw, it was nothing," Austin said while rubbing his nose, being flattered when there was no need to be.

Serena's silver eyes flickered with emotion for a second before settling back to their stony state.

Right... Of course Viola has family members who worries about her. Serena could empathize with what Alexa was saying... though no one did help her in those situations. Well, they did, but they were either too late or they chose to help her instead of others that were close to her.

"Say..." Alexa trailed off, studying Serena's face. "Have I seen you in Lumiose before?"

The brunette snapped out of her reverie to peer back at the woman suspiciously. "I don't think so."

Alexa mused for a moment before coming up with something. "Ah, I remember now! You're one of those who got involved in the accident with Garchomp and Tyranitar right?"

Serena remain silent but her desire to leave was increasing with every word that was spoke between them.

"No?" Alexa said with brows furrowed in confusion. "I'm pretty sure I read a report about the victims of -"

"Let's stop right there," Serena snapped and glared with a sudden rising anger. "I don't know what you're talking about and if you're here then I don't have a reason to stay here so I best be going now."

The brunette spun on her heel, her ponytail swishing in the same motion, and stomped off before neither Alexa or Austin could say anymore then they have. She didn't need some reporter to interview her on what happened and the other crap. She wanted to stay hidden as much as possible, so that once she finish off some business, she could return to her secluded life.

She walked back to the Pokemon Center and by the time she got back, Nurse Joy informed her that her Pokemon were all healed up and ready to be picked up. She thanked the nurse as she retrieve the pokeballs from the nurse's hands and waste no time in leaving the Pokemon Center.

Serena called out her Arcanine again once she was outside of the city and sped up the trip. Route 4 was indeed just like a well - kempt garden. Neatly trimmed hedges at every corner of the route were grown on certain spots so that they created a maze for people to walk and get lost into. Great idea to past time... unless you can't find our way out for as long as you're in there; might be hours, might be days.

There were an array of flowers planted that sway back and forth with a passing breeze. There were Pokemon that Serena could both recognize and not recognize that played out in the opening near the patches of flowers as if they were used to human interaction - probably has. From what Serena saw, there were Skitty, Ralts, Budew, a small white Pokemon holding up a red flower too big to be of any relevant to the Pokemon's size.

There might be more, but she didn't want to start a Pokemon scavenger hunt right now.

When they neared the middle of the suppose route, Serena saw the largest fountain she'd laid her eyes on yet. The fountain rim was of immaculate jade stone armored with stone colored in gold. At either side of the fountain, a platform was raised to twice the height of the fountain rim with two golden Horsea facing inward towards each other. Each Horsea was sprouting water out of their nose... or mouth, making an arch and traveling far enough to cross the one that the other made. In the middle stood a giant golden Clamperl sitting atop a circular tower, all around with water cascading down like a circular waterfall. The water that the golden Horea spray end exactly on the opposite ends of the Clamperl's... well, clam, adding water to the waterfall.

Serena stayed for a few seconds just to stare at the structure, wondering who in their right mind would built something so big and how much work it took to keep the thing so clean that you could practically eat off of the fountain's rim - not that she would do that of course. And the statues, they were too bright, how could anyone look at those things without getting temporary blindness?

Okay, setting the fountain critique aside, Serena told Archy to keep going straight until they reach Lumiose. It was almost sunset and she was almost there. She just need to finish the last leg and she'll take a break for the night. She'll need to regather her strength after what happened today.

...

"Finally," Serena heaved a deep breath when she arrived at Lumiose City, slid off of Archy, and petting him around the cheek as a thank you before returning him to rest in his pokeball. "Still as impacted and noisy as ever."

The brunette mentally made a plan of what she was going to do and started walking through South Boulevard. First was to visit Prof. Sycamore at his second lab building and upgrade at pokedex of hers, and then she's going to sleep for the night because she's too damn tired to think or do anything else. This was what she get from not exercising for the past... five... or six years.

She strolled along the sidewalk, looking around and then froze.

... Where was it again? She wasn't paying attention the first time she went there, after the first building got demolished.

Serena heaved a frustrated sigh. Maybe I should -

Her train of thoughts were disrupted by suddenly colliding into someone. Serena fell onto her rear while the person she bumped into stumble back a few steps.

"Sorry," the person apologized, sounding a little out of breath as if the person just ran a mile. "are you okay?"

Serena felt the presence of a hand placed in front of her when her eyes were shut which led her to open them and let her eyes trail up to the owner. She met eye to eye with a boy around her age, with medium blonde hair and deep sea blue eyes. He wears a green jacket that left the collar unzipped, leaving it propped up and open. The jacket is accompanied by navy blue jeans and brown shoes.

The brunette let her gaze fall back to the offered hand for a split second before getting up by herself and dusting any particles that she may have accumulated on her red, high waist skirt.

"Fine." she muttered brusquely.

The blonde retracted his hand and stare at Serena with a curious, yet playful look.

The brunette caught his gaze and scowled. "What?" she didn't like to be gawked out, especially with those... analyzing eyes that reminded her of her own.

He smiled... or was it a smirk? He was a difficult person for Serena to read. "Nothing, you're just the exact opposite of a girl I know."

Serena returned his gaze with a deadpan look. "And you're telling me this because...?" she trailed off into a question, sounding a little harsher than she wanted but it's not like she cared what the other thought about her.

"You asked, didn't you?" he quipped.

"And I expected a short, one word answer," Serena retorted coldly. "Not the rest of the sentence."

The blonde said nothing, he only smiled... or smirk. Whichever one it was, it was irking the hell out of Serena. She couldn't tell what the guy in front of her is thinking, just like Campbell is at times... or is it Clain? Curtner?

"Anyways, I gotta go," the blonde male said with his hands in his pockets, breaking the silence between them and bringing Serena back from her name trouble. He began sauntering pass Serena as if he wasn't in a hurry before. "See ya, Icy."

It took a while for the last remark to sink into Serena and then she frowned in distaste. That annoying idiot is going to get it if we ever cross paths again.

Why are Kalosians so dead set on giving people nicknames? Even to strangers that they met by accident. Maybe they're not familiar with the terms 'stranger danger.'

Just as the blonde disappear into the crowd, Serena noticed , from the corner of her eye, a few chattering reporters nearby and ordinary people. It looks as though they were ganging up on someone in the middle and she would hate to be that person right now.

Just looking at them remained her of how they were always trying to get an interview with her mother as well as from her from time to time. She grind her teeth in irritation.

Seriously, the paparazzi in Kalos were too nosy for their own good.

"Serena?"

Yvonne and the others all stood in front of a large screen hanging outside of a business building, watching a certain friend of theirs battle yet another challenger. Barely ten minutes into the battle, the challenger was already losing with only two Pokemon left while the current Kalos Champion still have five.

"He sure gotten stronger," Tierno remarked, watching and listening as the TV announcer commentated on the battle that was broadcast throughout the region.

There were other people watching as well, commenting at how strong Calem was. There were girls that was squealing in delight as the camera gain a closer up at their object of adoration.

"And gained a lot of fans," Trevor added, trying to muffle out the screams with his hands.

Shauna frowned as she noticed something. "But he isn't happy is he?"

'What?" Trevor cast a quick look at his pig tailed friend before returning to the screen so that he could analyze Calem's expression.

Indeed, Calem wasn't all that interested in the battle at all, he looked bored out of his mind; but wasn't he like that all the time?

"He just don't have anyone that can fight him on equal terms," Yvonne commented absentmindedly. Shauna steer her head in Yvonne's direction.

"Aren't you just just as stronger as he is Nène ?" she queried.

The blonde shook her head sadly. "I always lose to him whenever we battle. Even in practice matches, Calem always got one over me. But..." Yvonne looked back up at the screen.

"He wasn't like this before..." she balled her hands into fists, remembering how she could always see a spark of excitement in Calem's eyes when they battled during their travel. The genuine smile that would always show up after a battle. But after defeating her in the Victory Road and becoming Champion, Calem lost that glint.

Yvonne missed it, she wished that she could bring it back but she just wasn't strong enough. She knew she wasn't strong when she noticed that Calem was holding back during one of the Pokemon battles that they have after he became Champion. She entered the Pokemon League and defeat the Elite Fours before but she just couldn't seem to win one over Calem.

It was always down to her last exhausted Pokemon while Calem still have two Pokemon that haven't been send onto the field yet.

"And the winner is the defending champion, Calem Xander!" the announcer commentated as the camera zoomed in one Calem when he was returning his Absol.

"I'm going to take a stroll," Yvonne said to her friends as she walked away. Shauna and her two remaining friends exchange worried looks, wondering why Yvonne wasn't her usual cheerful self.

"Do you think Cal's recent mood is bothering her?" Tierno inquired. "He has been a little more stress than usual and he doesn't look like he wanted to talk to anyone at all."

"Maybe we can find some way to cheer both of them up!" Shauna chirped with a a playful glint in her eyes.

Trevor sighed, knowing where this conversation was going to lead to. "Why can't we just stay out of their business? Your plans always end up getting us in trouble of any kind."

Shauna rolled her eyes. "Trevs, you need to be more adventurous! What's the good of traveling around the entire Kalos region if you hadn't learn anything from it?"

Tierno chuckled lightly, "She got you there Trevs!"

"Shut up." the small teen muttered, averting his gaze.

Shauna took her Holo Caster from her purse. "Okay, I'm going to call Calem over and we could do something fun together!"

...

Yvonne sat down on a park bench, facing other people strolling and talking to each other. She heaved a sigh and looked up at the sky aimlessly.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite little ray of sunshine," came the sneering of a familiar voice.

"Huh?" Yvonne snapped her neck back to face forward to find the blonde male that she meet a while ago smirking at her. She didn't know whether she should be annoyed by Xavier's presence, or be happy about it. She definitely felt a little happy that she got to talk to him again, albeit the last time they met, it wasn't a good start.

"What are you still doing here?" she queried simply.

"Aw, is my presence not good enough for you Princess?" Xavier said with a smile but Yvonne could detect a tinge of sarcasm in his tone. Still, she couldn't help but let heat rise to her cheeks when he called her Princess.

She let her blush fade quickly and crossed her arms. "Flattery will get you nowhere."

Xavier shrugged, placing his hands in his green jacket. "Never hurts to try, don't you think?"

"You never know," Yvonne had a small smirk of her own playing on her lips. "I might just punch you in the face for it. Pretty sure that will hurt."

The blonde male chuckled and then leaned in closer to Yvonne. "Are you sure you can bring yourself to ruin such a handsome face?"

Again, heat rise up to her cheeks, but she quickly hide it with a glare while pushing Xavier away to get her personal space back. "I will and you never answered answer my question. Shouldn't you have already left Lumiose?"

The boy decided to take a seat next to her with a subtle grunt. He lifted one leg over the other before answering. "I got lost and didn't know how to get out of this place."

"... You're joking right?" Yvonne deadpanned. She didn't believe in the boy's words. How could anyone get lost for three weeks that they been to Lumiose? It was just impossible.

"No, I'm Charles II," Xavier replied with a causal roll of his eyes. "Of course I was joking, but is it a crime to be here? I think not. And I just so happen to see you in this park and you were looking a little out of it so I thought: hey, why not come over and see what's up? So, what's up?"

"You know, the sky, clouds, birds, planes," Yvonne joked. His answer was too vague for her taste but she'll let it slide. Why should she care if he stays in Lumiose or not?

"Hah, hah, you're hilarious," Xavier said sarcastically, moving his head side to side once. "You should be a comedian."

"Hmph, why should I share my problems with you?"

"Because you're the ever-so-optimist who trusts anyone that you meet in a day's time span, enough to consider them as friends." the boy replied ever-so causally.

That easily made Yvonne's blood boil to the extent that steam was coming off of her head. "WHAT?!"

Unfortunately for Xavier, he was sitting right next to the screeching girl that her voice was as loud as speakers on maximum volume. He immediately clamp his ears shut before casting a glance at the enraged blonde girl next to him.

Oops. Looks like he overdid it; but he did enjoy teasing her.

"Er... oh, well you look at to time," Xavier said quickly, looking at his invisible wristwatch, and stood up. "I should get going! See ya!"

"HEY!" Yvonne bellowed, earning some strange looks from passerby but she didn't care - not now anyways. Her eyes were on the running blonde male and she wasn't going to let him off the hook for making fun of her. "GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW XAVIER! I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU!"

"Sorry but I would like to live a little longer, Y!" Xavier laughed while he sprinted off.

Yvonne's anger ceased for a moment but she still continue to chase after the teen. "Why what?"

Before she could get an answer, she saw Xavier colliding with someone but she couldn't go help him because she was pulled over by a reporter a second after. They were asking her random questions that she then gain attentions of other people. How exactly did she become popular? Oh yeah, it was because she was Calem's rival, made a few PVs, and someone who was directly involved in the incident that happened about a month ago.

She was finding being in the spotlight a little too annoying. Why can't they just lay off the gossip and do some actual reporting?

"U-um..." Yvonne tried to speak over the people talking to her with her hands up in front of her in defense. She tried to look over people's head to see if Xavier was still there but he wasn't. Instead, she saw - "Serena?"

Said girl flinch upon hearing her name being called and looked over to crowd again to find a pair of familiar emerald eyes staring back at her. What was her name again? Yasmin? Yancy? Wait, wasn't that the name of some famous pop idol in Unova?

Yvonne snuck away from the crowd and stood in front of the brunette. "It really is you!"

Well aren't you the Sherlock. Serena thought sarcastically.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Yvonne chirped and then took her by the arm. "Let's talk over a drink!"

"W-wha...?" Serena was completely caught off guard by the friendly action. Since when the hell did they become such good friends that they could 'talk' over something to drink?! And why wouldn't she be okay?

Yvonne led Serena away from where they were . They stopped and sat outside of a cafe, both of them ordering something to drink.

"Just a random question but have you seen a guy with blonde hair and blue eyes?"

"..." Serena deadpanned at her, looked at the people walking pass, and then face back to her with the unchanging expression. "There are a lot of people that fit that description."

"Oh... ehehe..." Yvonne sweatdropped while feeling like she was having deja vu. "I mean, blonde hair, blue eyes, green jacket, blue jeans."

"... The guy with the idiotic attitude?"

"H-huh?" The blonde stared at the brunette dumbly.

Serena sighed, "yes, I have. And I assume he's a friend of yours?"

"Well..." Yvonne began, tapping a finger to her chin. Serena immediately knew that this was going to be a long topic that she didn't want to hear but Yvonne already started before Serena could stop her.

She would leave but... she already ordered her drink. She didn't want to her money to go to waste. And Yvonne would probably drag her back before she could get far anyways so what was the point?

Serena then figured out that she would need something more than just a cup of thé au lait to last the entire rant that Yvonne already started.

Calem shook hands with the challenger, mindlessly commenting that the challenger just needed more practice and all the other things that a champion was supposed to say to people after battling.

Once he exit out of the Champion's room, Calem was greeted by the Elite Four Drasna, a woman who looks to be in her late fifties. She wears a long, dark reddish brown dress that goes down near to her shoes. Along with the dress, she wears a type of Dragon accessory that were lined with Dragon Teeth. The shoes that she wears were high heels that were forged out of Dragon teeth in the front. Her hair is a dark-blue-ish purple, and it floats in the air quite gracefully.

"My my, that was quite the quick battle," Drasna commented.

"Consider he defeat you four, I thought that he would be a challenge," Calem said causally and shrugged. "but he was just like all the others. Where are the others?"

"Let's see now..." the Dragon trainer mused. "Wikstrom already headed back to his training regiment, Malva has to do another broadcast at the TV station, and Siebold returned to his restaurant."

Calem scratch the back on his head while his free hand was put on his waist. "They sure have busy lives."

Drasna chuckled. "You can say that for them, being part of the Elite Four is merely a hobby to their daily lives though they do take their jobs seriously. But you, being the Champion, have much more responsibilities."

The raven haired teen rolled her eyes. "Where have I heard that before? But I'm failing miserably at it..."

"It's the effort that counts."

Calem's Holo Caster rings off, interrupting the conversation. He took the device out to found the caller ID belonging to Shauna. "Sorry, I gotta go." he aplogized, knowing what Shauna wants before he even answers her call.

Drasna nodded and watched as Calem disappear into the depths of the hallway. "What will you do once the wait is over?"

...

Once Calem arrived into Lumioe City, he decided to take a stroll before meeting up with his friends; which led his thoughts to wander from place to place. His eyes looked around the city until they landed on something that caught Calem's entire attention. He suddenly stop in his tracks and stare across the street in surprise.

Was he seeing things?

She shook his eye and look again, nope. Serena was definitely sitting across the street, in front of a cafe, talking to Yvonne... Or rather, it was listening to Yvonne talk. Though Serena looked as though she was zoned out while looking down on her drink with her head rested on her hand.

Calem have the sudden urge to walk over to them and talk to Serena but what was he going to say? Last time he tried talking to her, it didn't end well. He wasn't given a chance to talk to her ever since.

While he was thinking, his body switched to auto pilot and led him to where the two girls were sitting at.

"The Carmel Apple ones are definitely the best!" Yvonne somehow went off track of the original topic and wounded up talking about different types of parfait. "Don't you think so - Caly!"

The blonde notice Calem once he was in her peripheral vision. Calem snapped out of his thoughts when Yvonne called out to him. He only then realize that he was standing right in front of them.

"Oh... uh, hey." he greeted awkwardly with a wave of his hand.

"Hm?" Serena seem to have finally been brought out of her own reverie at the abrupt stop of Yvonne's jabbering, which was a relief - not that she was listening anyways.

When she saw that Yvonne was looking at something, she wondered what she was looking at. And so, her gaze trail to someone standing in front of their table.

"Oh."

Frenchlations:

Thé au Lait - milk tea

Yeah, I don't know why but I felt like describing things in a lot of details in this chapter... as you can see what I did with the fountain in Route 4, hence why this chapter's so... long, almost 5k.

I'll sign off here. Until next time,

~Lily