Heroes of Kalos Abridged

by Zokolov

Fashionista and pyromaniac Serena is just like most young people of her age, her interests consisting of Pokémon, shopping and becoming the immortal ruler of Kalos. But to do that, she needs a loyal group of flunkies and must stay out of the International Police's reach. Based on a true story.

11. Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Chapter Eleven: Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Location: Boutique Couture, Lumiose City, Kalos

"Well?" Serena told the clerk of Lumiose's finest boutique. "I didn't see, 'you must be at least this swag to enter' sign outside, so can you let me in or what?"

"I'm sorry," the clerk said snidely. "This store is only for those with sufficient style."

"Look at my clothes!" Serena snapped. "Once you've recovered from being awestruck, stand aside and let me waste my hard-earned money on cool stuff!"

"Oh, dear," the clerk said and shook her head. "'Style' is not as simple as that – it's what we, the cream of the crop in Lumiose, live by! Just wearing fancy clothes isn't enough... plus your shoes don't match your dress."

Serena gasped in shock.

"But more importantly," the clerk said with her finger in the air. "You need to go out there and become cooler, incorporate yourself to the elite of Lumiose – then we might maybe consider about thinking of letting you in."

"Interesting," Serena said. "Here's my comeback."

Before the clerk noticed it, her sleeve was on fire. As she ran away to put it out, Serena entered the store, and no one gave her any trouble after that. She visited the second floor which had all sorts of cool menswear, including a nice black zipped shirt combo. But for whatever reason, Serena was unable to buy any of them. Even if she wasn't going to wear them, they still looked cool, and it was the principle of the thing.

Serena added this injustice to her list of things that would change when she was in command. The list was eighteen pages now – front and back. She then returned downstairs to look at some nice blouses.

Serena, Shauna, Tierno and Trevor had all spent the night in a large apartment on Juane Plaza. It was an exceptionally nice place, owned by Trevor's sister and a woman she lived with, where Trevor also stayed often. Trevor himself was grumbling and complaining the whole time while Trevor's sister gave the group a heartfelt welcome and told them to stay as long as they wanted. Later that night, when Trevor had tired himself with his grumbling and went to bed, Trevor's sister told the group about how their parents, who originally lived in Lumiose, left on a Pokémon journey once and hadn't been seen since. Serena commented on that 'explaining a lot' rather tastelessly, but nonetheless promised to support Trevor and his sister once she had all the power.

The next morning, Serena spent hours getting to know Clemont's crazy virtual training environment – apparently she could have used it any time, though Serena had no idea how it worked. But, it was promised to produce results, so Serena had Delphox, Talonflame, Charizard, Combusken and Sylveon work on the bags and play a weird game which involved throwing balls at a giant balloon. But hey, nothing was too ridiculous in a quest to get stronger.

She had then left to find Boutique Couture without telling anyone, wanting to do something alone for a change. As much as she loved skirts and dresses, Serena decided to buy a gray tie-neck blouse and matching bold striped pants, along with black Mary Janes, choosing them not only based on style, but their hefty price tag as well. This shopping spree drained most of her money, which meant she couldn't get the one piece of clothing she desired the most: a black trench coat dress, the most expensive item in the store.

After changing into her new clothes, she got a message on her Holo Caster. It was a from professor Sycamore, surprisingly enough, asking her to come to a place called Lysandre Café on Magenta Plaza – the name was pretty much a dead giveaway on what was going on, but out of interest, she decided to go anyway. As she put her Holo Caster back in her bag, something suddenly appeared in the store, emerging from the shadows, causing many of the customers to shriek and panic, but Serena was completely calm.

"Oh, hi, Lucario," she said nonchalantly and turned to look at the Pokémon. "Where in Heatran's name have you been hid- Lucario?!"

Lucario was breathing heavily and looked badly hurt, covered in burn marks – the stuff Serena was supposed to inflict on her enemies, not the other way around! It looked like it had been in an exhausting battle, having some fresh, bleeding wounds, too.

"What happened?!" Serena asked, then came to her senses. "Right, you're a Pokémon. Well, as soon as that lazy bum Clemont drags himself out of the hospital, we'll have him build a translator for us. In the meantime, get some rest!"

Serena withdrew her Lucario, not having kept it in its Poké Ball in a while. As she left the store, ignoring the stares and panicked whispering of the other customers, Serena pondered on what had happened. Something had kept Lucario from reaching her for an entire day – coincidentally on the same day when Serena confronted the maid robot again. And Lucario had been the only Pokémon who could defeat her back at the Power Plant.

Whoever they were, they were either incredibly brave, or did not know Serena very well. On her way to get a cab, Serena went to a small convenience store and bought some fuel for her lighter and a few fresh cans of hair spray just in case.

~o~O~o~

Location: Lysandre Café, Lumiose City, Kalos

Monsieur Lysandre's establishment was in a pretty easy-to-miss place, wedged on a small alley between Magenta Plaza and Autumnal Avenue. Colored bright red on the outside, Serena's eyes started hurting as she stepped in, realizing that it was even brighter red on the inside. Despite its inconvenience and undoubtedly high prices, there were a surprising amount of people in, strange music playing from the speakers and the waiter giving her an odd look as she entered. In particular, a china cabinet at the back of the café gave out a mysterious vibe...

All in all, seemed like a nice place!

"Over here!"

Serena prepared herself, seeing Sycamore waving at her from near the counter, holding a milkshake and wearing dorky-looking casual clothes instead of his lab coat. He had clearly been spending hours to make his hair look as fabulous as it could be this morning. Next to him was Lysandre, looking as serious as always, still wearing the same snazzy suit with a fur collar as last time.

"Ah, bonjour, Serena!" Sycamore greeted enthusiastically and bowed – at least he wasn't trying to kiss her hand or something as lame as that. "What a marvelous ensemble you wore for the occasion! Oh, you are truly the great Rhyhorn racer's daughter!"

"Yeah, but I'm my own person first," Serena pointed out with a frown – why was Sycamore greeting her like some family friend or something? "What's going on?"

"I was going to introduce you to someone who could help you on your, ahem, quest," Sycamore said, gesturing at Lysandre, "but he told me you had already met."

"Yeah, we have," Serena said and leaned against the counter, stepping between the professor and Lysandre. "Hi, Mr. Lewsanders," she said in a bored tone.

Lysandre's eye twitched, but he didn't flip his lid. "Enchanté," he said curtly, sounding as creepy as always. "Would you perhaps care to taste our mild-temperate, caffeinated, bean-based Lysandre Beverages? Or perhaps a little Lysandre Treat."

Lysandre took a plate of small and overpriced pink cakes with cherries on top and offered it to Serena.

"Try one. They're... cute," Lysandre said with a grim face, while Serena shook her head. "You've made your choice, then. No cute cakes for you... yes..."

Lysandre then just turned to stare at a distance for a while before suddenly speaking up:

"Well, let us take a seat and talk more – this way!"

Lysandre led Serena and Sycamore to a table in the corner that was suspiciously empty, even though there were people seated in all of the other tables and a few at the counter. Sycamore pulled a chair for Serena to use, but Serena took a seat herself, so Sycamore offered the seat to Lysandre.

"Me and Lysandre were actually talking about Mega Evolution!" Sycamore said cheerfully, Serena wondering how these two could ever carry a conversation.

"Yes, the ultimate power," Lysandre whispered. "Itwillbemine! I mean, I would like to congratulate you, Serena. Mega Evolution is something that I, too, would want to use. Cough."

"Why did you say 'cough'?" Serena asked.

"Oh yeah," Sycamore continued obliviously, "one day you might. See, Serena, Lysandre himself is of loyal ancestry. He is truly," Sycamore sighed and leaned on his hands to stare at Lysandre while taking a sip of his milkshake, "the chosen one. The one who will turn Kalos into a paradise one day, I'm sure."

"Excuse me," Serena said.

"Um, right, if you don't succeed in that, of course," Sycamore corrected and laughed nervously, "and that's a pretty big 'if'. Lysandre, Serena here is on a quest, to, um... I mean, she's a Pokémon trainer who wants to become Champion, to... how should I explain it..."

"Just finish your milkshake, prof," Serena told Sycamore and turned to Lysandre. "Well, you, as a world-renowned businessman who makes... uh..."

"I made the Holo Casters," Lysandre reminded icily.

"Yeah, that – wow, cool, good for you, by the way. Anyway, I'm sure you of all people understand the state this region, nay, this world, is in. If you would support my quest for a few little things, like power, followers and immortality, I would let you and your company be among the select few who will stand by my side and change the course of history – how does that sound?"

Lysandre stroked his beard and stared into space for a while. "Interesting," he said. "You are right that this world is in a sorry state. I will consider your effort... afterImurderyou!" he coughed.

"Excuse me?"

"I have a Lysandre Cold," Lysandre said matter-of-factly. "Anyway, my royal lineage, yes, very important. Well, I am a descendant of the king's younger brother-"

"Doesn't that make you a descendant of the king as well?" Serena pointed out.

"Shut up," Lysandre said. "Anyway, that being said, people love to exaggerate, and that story is three thousand years old, so it might not be entirely reliable. Except for the parts that totally are, like all of it. But not really. Figure it out."

"What a confusing, mysterious and yet amazing and desirable man," Sycamore sighed wistfully. "You see, Serena dear, the reason I wanted you to meet him was that he's an important figure in Kalos. He supports trainers and Pokémon research with some of the profits he makes with the inventions by Lysandre Labs, like the Holo Caster."

"Well, people can be divided into two groups," Lysandre lectured over Sycamore slurping his milkshake obnoxiously. "Those who give, and those who take. It's just as how Kalos' legendary Pokémon give and take life."

Serena leaned closer to Lysandre. Sycamore finished his milkshake with a big gulp.

"Ah, delicious!" he said. "Oh, yes, Lysandre is also the person you can ask about the legendary Pokémon!"

"Tell me all," Serena said. "Where are they, what do they do, what do they eat – please tell me they like pink Poké Puffs!"

Lysandre put his hand in his pocket slowly. Serena prepared to duck, but Lysandre just pulled out a PokéDex, showing Serena and Sycamore images of two Pokémon, corresponding to the pictures Serena had seen in her books.

"The Life Pokémon is Xerneas," Lysandre said as he showed a picture of a blue and black cervine Pokémon with eight colorful horns, "and the Destruction Pokémon is Yveltal," he showed a picture of an equally massive, roughly Y-shaped red and black bird Pokémon.

For some reason, Serena felt a slight shiver looking at Yveltal's picture. Sycamore leaned so close to the PokéDex that the tip of his nose almost touched it.

"My, my," he said. "How did you manage to get data on them?"

"I'm Lysandre," the man said as he put his PokéDex back. "Their whereabouts are unknown, but I would also like to find them. Not to capture them or anything, of course. Just... for fun. Yes. Anyway, it looks like many of the old myths and legends have some scientific basis, although I doubt their powers are as massive as people say. Xerneas has two modes, Neutral Mode and Active Mode. In the latter, it actively exerts what some call 'life energy', making it a beneficial force of nature. This same life energy is actively absorbed by Yveltal. Both are rarely seen due to their long periods of hibernation, which can last millenia. Xerneas transforms into a tree, while Yveltal transforms into a giant cocoon, which usually gathers dirt, moss and the like on it, effectively concealing it."

"Life energy," Serena pondered. "Very fascinating."

"I want to be like Xerneas, the kind of person that gives," Lysandre said, Serena anticipating a rant, "but in this sorry world, some foolish humans exist who would show their strength by taking what isn't theirs."

Lysandre banged the table with his fist for emphasis.

"They're filth!" he screamed, though no one in the café besides Serena and Sycamore seemed interested.

Lysandre cleared his throat and adjusted himself. "Long, long ago," he said, Serena feeling drowsy whenever someone started a sentence like that, "the king of Kalos sought to take everything for his own, and he created a terrible weapon. Then the fire of destruction was unleashed... that is the legend that has been passed down."

"Such a fascinating tale," Serena yawned.

"Kalos is beautiful right now!" Lysandre yelled and slammed the table again, knocking down Sycamore's empty milkshake glass. "There will be no foolish actions if the number of people and Pokémon do not increase. That being said, the future is uncertain. You can't be sure that each day will be like the one before. What the king of Kalos did was reprehensible, but... the ultimate weapon did manage to wash the world clean of that era's filth."

Sycamore gulped nervously, but Serena was nodding appreciatively.

"Yes, yes, filth bad," she said. "Would be nice to have a weapon like that, right Mr. Fleur-de-lis?"

"That's not even close!" Lysandre complained. "And, um, I wouldn't know," he said with shifty eyes. "Anyway, thank you for listening to me. Here."

Lysandre gave Serena something. Serena's interest was piqued immediately – but it just turned out to be a coupon for one (1) free Lysandre Shake – Gum-Corroding Goodness!

"I shall take my leave now," Lysandre said and got up. "Many important things to take care of... LIKE YOUR IMPENDING DOOM!"

"Sorry, what?!" Serena asked.

"Uh... damn," Lysandre muttered. "Well, uh, imagine I said the quiet part loudly and vice versa. Yeah. You know how it goes. It was a pleasure to talk one last time, Augustine. Bye."

Sycamore sighed as Lysandre left, while Serena frowned.

"What did he mean by 'one last time'?" she asked the professor.

"Hm? Sorry, I didn't pay attention to that part. I was lost in his eyes. But what a passionate person, right? He's just like a blazing flame. Perhaps his pride in his lineage is what makes him burn so intensely."

"He needs to burn, all right."

"That said," Sycamore pointed out, "what Lysandre says is just one way of looking at things. It's not necessarily the truth. Serena! What's truly important is the time you spend together with your friends and Pokémon! Treasure these moments spent traveling the Kalos region! Also, do you think he noticed my new shirt? It's pretty swanky, right? Do kids still say that?"

Sycamore wiped his mouth gracefully while looking thoughtful.

"Oh, by the way," he said, "the Masked Heroes, personal friends of mine-"

Serena sighed wearily.

"-told me about the Power Plant crisis! Excellent job, Serena! With the number one producer of electricity in Kalos on your side, you can't fail! I also heard about those fiendish Team Flare people and their scientists. I wonder who the diabolical mastermind behind it all is... I guess we'll never know."

Serena looked around the café, a familiar logo plastered pretty much on every wall and above the entrance.

"You seriously don't know?" Serena asked him. "After that conversation?"

"Whatever do you mean, Serena? Do you know?"

"It's obviously... you know what, never mind. I'm not gonna even bother. How did you ever get this job, anyway, professor? And don't say 'looks'!"

"...okay, I won't say."

Serena rolled her eyes and got up from her Lysandre Chair to leave. But Sycamore got up at the same time, a more serious look on his face.

"Serena," he said awkwardly.

"...yes?" Serena asked when Sycamore seemingly couldn't get a word out.

"I..." Sycamore scratched his nose and looked away from Serena. "I sincerely hope you enjoy living in Kalos. It must have been hard to leave Unova behind, but I do think you belong here."

"It's been bearable so far, an upgrade from Anville Town, anyway," Serena said suspiciously. "What's this about?"

"Grace, uh, visited Kalos quite often," Sycamore said – it was pretty unusual for him to talk like he wasn't the most perfect being in the universe. "Even I've never asked about her region of origin, but she has stated that Kalos feels like a home to her. I suppose that was another reason for you moving here, huh?"

Serena turned away from him. "There were plenty of reasons," she said quietly.

"Yeah," Sycamore said and tried to put his hands in his lab coat pockets, only to remember that he wasn't wearing it. "Just... do me a favor and check up on her every once in a while, too, okay? She's... I'd hate for anything to happen to her. Not that I think that the world's greatest Rhyhorn racer needs to be looked after or anything, heheh..."

"You're weird," Serena told Sycamore. "I'm leaving. Oh, but did you get anything from Diantha?"

Sycamore shook his head, though he smiled while he did it. "I suppose she's far too busy with her work to pay a visit to little old me. My Mega Evolution research hasn't really advanced much. Though I did speak to Gurkinn this morning. Apparently someone else just got a Mega Ring from him and Korrina, which is pretty unusual."

"Okay," Serena said. "Who?"

"Oh, I'm not telling," Sycamore said coyly, which irritated Serena. "You'll see soon enough, though."

"Well thanks for this then," Serena sighed and left the café.

Sycamore stayed a long while after Serena left, quietly staring at his empty glass.

"Take care of yourself," he muttered, then slapped his cheek dramatically and stood up. "Oh man, I was supposed to be at work hours ago!"

~o~O~o~

Location: Looker Bureau, the shady side of Lumiose City, Kalos

A few days later...

"Indeed, the foul air in this city fills me with despair whenever I enter," Looker talked to himself while staring out of the window, "but it necessary to gaze into the abyss once in a while, too. Under my tutelage, young Emma has learned a few things. She is intelligent, and I suspect her progress can also be owed to her brilliant instructor. Ha ha. With the acceptance of the Espurr known as Mimi – she only mildly lashes out at me anymore – I am one step closer to reaching my goal. My heart sinks as I think about whatever trauma may have befallen dear Mimi in the past, but prying into another's secrets is not good manners, person or Pokémon."

"Uh, Mr. Looker," said Emma, who was reading on the floor in the middle of the office with Mimi, "who are you talking to?"

"Excuse me, but I do need to work on my private eye monologue once in a while," Looker explained as he turned away from the window. "I thought you were too focused to mind."

"I was trying, but this reading business is hard!" Emma said as she rubbed her forehead. "Good thing I have Mimi here with me."

"She... can read?" Looker asked, raising one eyebrow quizzically.

"Yeah, when I'm strugglin' with a word, Mimi reads it out telepathically to me," Emma explained as she scratched Mimi behind her ear. "Or, you know, somethin' like that."

Looker raised his other eyebrow too. "I'm quite impressed, Emma," he said. "You have lots of drive and a keen understanding of things – and Mimi is very intelligent as well. You two are perfect assistants."

Emma giggled. "Thanks, Mr. Looker," she said, "but about this assistant thing – when will I actually do something? I 'preciate you helping me read, write, count and all that junk, but it's not what I thought a detective would do..."

Looker turned to the window again. "Once I heard about your predicament – how, apparently, you've never gone to school-"

"Yeah, but it doesn't mean I'm dumb or somethin'!" Emma protested. "And I did know a little even before I came here! I knew my letters, I can spell my name and I know what two times three is. I can even speak in other languages thanks to all the tourists here, so don't start-"

"You are not dumb," Looker said firmly. "You are smarter than most of my colleagues. Uh, other detectives, I mean, of course. We have picnics every once in a while."

Emma snorted. "Well, thanks," she said, "but do you have us a case or what? We might run out of money soon, y'know!"

"First of all," Looker said as he walked over to his desk and picked up a piece of paper, "you, Emma, need never concern yourself with our costs of living. Leave all of that to me. Second – yes, I have a case! You may take a break, Emma – I need thirty seconds of your time, no more!"

Emma was happy to close the book and sit cross-legged next to Mimi, looking up at Looker and waiting for him to explain.

"As I told you, I am on the trail of a dangerous individual," Looker began. "But I must also accept whatever assignment is given to me. The cash is a factor, of course – me and Iris got good money from the parent group who were worried about their kids. But an even bigger one is justice – it shall prevail, no matter the circumstances. That is why-"

Before Looker could finish, a middle-aged woman with dark hair barged into the office, startling Emma and Mimi, the latter hiding behind the former. She started ranting at Looker in a foreign language, who attempted to calm her down.

"Who's the old lady?" Emma wondered.

"Manners, Emma," Looker said. "It's related to the case I told you about. This is one of our fair city's famous tourists. I met her on my way here and she told me a most horrifying story – apparently, she has stayed in our fair city for days and has not yet been offered tea!"

"Uh, Mr. Looker," Emma said. "I don't think-"

"So, while I had her wait in the restaurant below, I went and bought some very fancy, expensive brand," Looker said and took a brown paper bag from his pocket. "I thought we could all have a taste, putting an end to this awful injustice."

"Mr. Looker!" Emma snapped. "That's not what she's saying."

Looker chuckled. "Emma, as a seasoned world traveler, I think I know-"

"Mimi, could you, please?" Emma asked the Espurr.

A sudden flash emanated from the Espurr's big, creepy eyes. Looker didn't notice anything unusual at first, then suddenly was able to hear the tourist's thoughts while she and Emma had a lengthy conversation in the tourist's language. Looker was shocked at how well Emma could speak it, and while she wasn't perfect, the tourists just seemed happy to be finally understood.

Apparently, a strange man had stolen her purse near the Lumiose Station. Normally, it wouldn't be too much of an issue, but it also contained her dear Pokémon. Looker also heard Emma's thoughts as the conversation got heated, Emma telling the tourist to-

"Emma!" Looker scolded. "Such language!"

"Sorry," Emma said standoffishly and crossed her arms. "But she was talking trash about you! Let her go to the police and tell them to handle this! We shouldn't waste our time helping her!"

"Apologies, Emma," Looker said quietly and took a deep breath, then suddenly yelled: "But I will not stand for that!"

"M... Mr. Looker?"

"Everyone will be helped, regardless of what she said about me," Looker said firmly. "Such is the nature of justice!"

"Yeah, but," Emma said, "if it happened near the Lumiose Station, that means the Lumiose Gang probably stole the Pokémon! You don't want to mess with them. We should probably drop this thing."

"Lumiose Gang, eh?" Looker said, rolled up his sleeves and cracked his knuckles. "Sounds like a couple of no-good punks who wish to be taught a lesson or two..."

Looker was about to dash out of the office when Emma glanced at Mimi, who used her powers to close the door. Looker turned to glare at Emma.

"Just listen to me for a sec, Mr. Looker!" Emma yelled, the tourist looking uncomfortable in the midst of the tension. "Shouldn't you at least take some Pokémon with you? Those people are really dangerous!"

Looker sighed and stared at the ground. "I don't have any," he said quietly. "Not too long ago, my one and only partner... well, put it this way. Imagine the bond you and Mimi have together. Now imagine it last since I was even younger than to you to just a few months ago. That was when I was on an important case. My partner did not make it."

Emma gasped and glanced at Mimi in horror. However, she quickly changed her appearance to a look of determination and glared right back at Looker.

"I'm sorry to hear that," she said, "but that's exactly why you need to be more careful! What would your partner say if something terrible happened to you?"

Looker winced, but didn't make a move towards the door anymore. Sighing, he unrolled his sleeves and smiled at Emma.

"You're right," he said. "But justice needs to be served. Tell you what: I will not confront this 'gang' you speak of directly, but rather, I will observe them from the shadows, scoping out their preferred hangouts, movements and tactics. As long as I reach the destination, I don't mind going the long way."

"Great," Emma sighed. "I'll come with-"

"No!" Looker pressed. "That is one demand I will not go around. It is far too dangerous, and besides, didn't you get a message from your friends yesterday?"

"Y-yes," Emma stuttered. "But Mr. Looker-"

"Go see them," Looker said reassuringly. "Have a good day. We'll meet later tonight in the office, and then we will liberate this madam's Pokémon together!"

Emma agreed and Mimi relinquished her control of the door. Looker dashed out, smiling confidently, happy to get his hands dirty and do some honest detective work at last.

~o~O~o~

Location: Estival Avenue, Lumiose City, Kalos

Serena, Shauna, Tierno and Trevor were enjoying a cup of coffee outside Café Gallant, though enjoying' might have been the wrong word, as only half of the group was having fun. Trevor looked as awkward as always while Serena had too much on her mind. When Serena had told Trevor what Lysandre had told her about Xerneas, though, Trevor seemed interested enough to listen to Serena for a minute or two.

"I'm still not any closer to finding it!" Serena yelled suddenly and slammed the table with her fist, causing Tierno to spill coffee all over his shirt. "Shut up, I'll buy you three new ones when I get more money!" she snapped as Tierno groaned about his favorite shirt being ruined.

"Where are you going to get money, Ser~?" Shauna asked. "You going to find a part-time job?"

Serena shuddered. "Shauna, please, don't even joke about that!" she said seriously.

"But I wasn't-"

"I could ask monsieur Lewis Sanders for a donation, but the fact that he creeps even me out is kinda unsettling," Serena pondered. "Plus there's the whole Team Flare thing."

"What Team Flare thing?" Tierno wondered.

Serena sighed. "Never mind," she said. "The routes outside this city should be teeming with trainers, though. I have a feeling I should leave today..."

"We leaving?" Shauna asked. "Aww, there was so much stuff to see, still. Oh, well, we can still come here later~"

"How many times do I have to say 'I' to get it through your skull?! I'm not the only one after that Pokémon, and it could get really dangerous! You all would probably do better if you stayed in Lumiose. But I also need money to buy items I'll need on my trip... Tierno, you have a couple of thousand?"

"To lend to you?" Tierno asked.

"No, to give to me. As in now."

"Well, no, actually," Tierno said sheepishly. "See, I found these really awesome dance shoes the other day and I just couldn't leave them in the store... though I should have probably spared a little something for Pokémon food..."

"Yeah, my Snorlax eats like a... Snorlax," Shauna complained. "So I'm kind of broke. But I don't mind, it's so cute! You wanna see it do a trick?"

"Shauna, no!" Serena yelled and grabbed Shauna's wrist as Shauna was about to open Snorlax's Poké Ball. "It'll crush everyone here, but more importantly, it'll crush me!"

Suddenly, Trevor, looking at his Holo Caster and drinking his coffee in a sophisticated manner, nearly choked as he saw something, coffee spurting out of his nose. Tierno slapped him on the back a couple of times, eventually clearing Trevor's laughs and allowing him to mutter in disbelief:

"No... it couldn't be... this is preposterous!"

"What's that, Trevs?" Tierno asked and grabbed his Holo Caster without asking. "Oh, wow!"

"Do share with the rest of us," Serena said.

"Your PR video, Ser," Tierno said and showed the Holo Caster to Serena despite Trevor's quiet protests. "It has like a half a million views now! Too bad you're not getting any of that ad money."

Serena didn't have time to ponder on Tierno's words, as she spotted a familiar person approaching. Emma was running towards them and waving, Mimi hobbling behind and trying to keep up with her. Some snooty passerby glanced at Emma's tattered clothes with derision, but Serena greeted her uncharacteristically fondly. Tierno also had a huge grin on his face as he spotted Emma.

"Hi, everyone!" Emma greeted. "Sorry I'm late, I was at a friend's place! Guess what? Me and Mimi finally have a place to stay!"

"That's amazing, Emma!" Tierno said warmly. "Where?"

"I... Iris fixed a place for me," Emma said quickly. "Not a foster family or anythin', a little place of my own, free of any pesky adults!"

"Awesome!" Tierno said. "Can we visit at some point?"

"Uh, Serena, why'd you call me here for?" Emma asked.

"I actually need Mimi for something," Serena said bluntly.

Emma's cheerful smile faded a bit. "Oh... okay."

"But I'd also like to buy you some lunch!" Serena said quickly. "We already had some and I'm kind of short on cash, but it's okay, Trevor's buying."

"What?!" Trevor hissed, but Serena kicked him in the shin under the table. "Ow! Eugh, fine, whatever..."

"First, though..."

Serena let Lucario out of it Poké Ball. Emma whistled appreciatively as she saw it materialize, but this changed to concern when she noticed the burn marks all over Lucario's body and the way the Pokémon was barely standing up.

"Haven't you taken it to a Pokémon Center yet?" Emma asked as she stepped closer to Lucario warily, looking at its wounds. "Or given it medicine of some sorts?"

"Hey, I was waiting for you to come first, and I'm out of money!" Serena protested. "By the way, how do you like this blouse? Frickin' awesome, am I right? Yeah, don't answer, I'm right!"

"What do you want Mimi to do?"

"Well, before you judge me, I don't know what happened to it," Serena said. "If Mimi can probe into my private memories and create invisible walls out of thin air, I'm pretty sure it can tell the rest of us what happened to Lucario by... reading its mind or something, I don't know these things. Trevor, you know this stuff. Am I right?"

"You speak of the most deepest secrets of the Pokémon world as if you know something, arrogant fool," Trevor grumbled. "Blabber all you want – you will never be above me."

"I wanted a 'yes' or a 'no'!"

"...maybe."

"Ah, good enough, I'm right," Serena said confidently. "So, Emma, have Mimi do its thing."

"Very well," Emma said uncertainly. "But you really should take it to be treated soon..."

"I'm not seeing anything happen!"

Emma sighed and told Mimi what to do. Serena watched Mimi hobble over to Lucario, who didn't resist as the Espurr stared at it with her big, creepy eyes. As if hypnotized, Lucario crouched and lowered its head, allowing Mimi to touch it.

Mimi closed her eyes, then slowly raised her other paw. A glowing ball of physic energy suddenly formed mid-air above her – this apparently wasn't nearly as interesting to the passerby as a girl with patched-up clothes, as no one seemed to care. The ball was initially just a fuzzy blur of images, but as Mimi concentrated, it started to show something – it was like watching TV.

The memory the group was seeing was from Lucario's point of view. It was making its way across the rooftops of Lumiose, trying to approach the Prism Tower, when a blast of blue fire out of nowhere suddenly struck it. It managed to shield its face, but got its paws badly burned and fell off the rooftop from the power of the impact. The image went hazy for a second, and as it cleared up again, Lucario lay on the ground at one of Lumiose's many shady alleys, a Chandelure hovering above it.

As Lucario turned its head, the group also caught a glimpse of the Chandelure's owner, the very sight of her making Serena cringe. It was a woman with pink hair wearing cool red-tinted sunglasses, smiling contently as she watched Lucario suffer. Chandelure then prepared for another flamethrower attack, but before the memory could continue, Mimi and Lucario both collapsed, the psychic energy disappearing. Serena quickly withdrew Lucario while Emma caught Mimi, who was in a slightly better shape but still dizzy.

"Who does she think she is?" Serena said shakily, clenching her hands as she stared at where the memory ball had been. "I am going to burn her, burn all her Pokémon, burn all her friends, reduce her house into nothing but a pile of ash-"

"Was that Malva just now?" Tierno wondered. "From the Holo Caster reports?"

"Oh yeah, she's working for Team Flare," Shauna said casually. "Kind of a bummer."

"Wait, who are Team Flare?" Emma asked as she picked Mimi up.

"Not explaining now, Tierno will tell you later," Serena snapped.

"Um, actually," Tierno said carefully, "I don't really know all that much either-"

"She knew it was my Lucario," Serena said quietly, a bloodthirsty look on her face. "She had been watching it since the Power Plant. She attacked my possessions – Pokémon, I mean – just like that. That's a declaration of war. Oh yes. I'll give her a war. She and the rest of Team Flare. They're so burned. Every single person who even considers being a part of Team Flare will feel the flames of my WRATH!"

"What a shame," Tierno sighed. "I've seen, like, dozens of her PR videos. They always cheer me up. It's hard to think of her as a criminal..."

Serena turned to look at him. "What?"

"Oh, yeah, she's a professional PR video maker along with her other duties. See, I mentioned ad money before... basically, some people are paid to make those videos, famous people, mostly, as they attract advertisers. There's been a few with Malva, some with professor Sycamore, a few with Mr. Bonding – he makes good song parodies, actually, check 'em out. I don't know what goes on in the background, though. Uh, Emma, you'll probably need this!"

Tierno gave Emma a Potion, which the girl gratefully accepted and sprayed Mimi with. Soon, Mimi looked a lot better, though Emma still looked concerned.

"Mimi, can you walk back home on your own?" she asked. "I'd like to stay for a while longer – I'll bring you food on the way back, okay?"

Mimi nodded and left, but instead of heading directly back home through the avenue, she slipped on a random side alley and disappeared from sight.

"Thank you very much, Emma," Serena said contemplatively. "You've earned your lunch – and a place by my side in the new world we're building."

"Um... cool? I think you should still take Lucario to a Pokémon Ce-"

"Garcon!" Serena yelled at a waiter. "Let's get some lunch up in here!"

While Emma ate, the others marveling at how much food went into someone so tiny, Serena hatched a plan. Once Emma was finished, Serena took her and the others to a building across the street: the Lumiose Press. There was someone there Serena wanted to talk to.

Inside the building, journalists were all busy, no one noticing Serena's group entering as they typed feverishly and rushed from one cubicle to another. The exception was the brown-haired woman calmly leaning against her desk and filing her nails while humming a cheery tune. The woman, Alexa, took her earpiece off and waved as she saw Serena's posse approaching.

"Oh, my, Serena, it's been way too long!" Alexa said. "I almost missed you from my massive pile of work. How have you been?"

"Good enough," Serena said. "Yeah, we haven't seen since I utterly destroyed your sister and her stupid bugs back in Santalune. How is Viola, anyway? As crazy as ever?"

"You bet!" Alexa said cheerily. "We've heard a lot of good things about your travels. Congratulations on your fifth badge!"

"Yeah, yeah," Serena said quickly. "Listen, I've heard you're the person who knows everything there's to know about Lumiose, so answer me this: what do you know about making professional PR videos?"

"A bunch," Alexa said. "There's a studio right here in this building where they make them, and we often help make deals between performers and advertisers. Many of our esteemed celebrity performers want to avoid the hassle and publicity that comes from using the studio on South Boulevard."

"As I thought," Serena mused. "And, do tell, what are you looking from these 'celebrity performers'? I mean," Serena paused to flip her hair gracefully, "could there perhaps be an opening for a beautiful, extremely powerful, respected and feared up-and-coming trainer and soon-to-be Queen of All Creation, Serena?"

"Nope," Alexa said cheerfully.

Serena narrowed her eyes at Alexa. "I'll burn down this building," she threatened.

"Well, that still wouldn't get you that video deal," Alexa countered.

"...damn it!"

"Serena, what's this about?" Shauna wondered.

Serena ignored Alexa for a while and turned to face her group of loyal minions.

"That rotten Malva has declared war on me, and by extension, all of us – because I say so," she announced. "Since I have no idea where she is, we are going to beat her in her own game. Alexa, you've seen my video, right? How many hits does it have, exactly?"

"502 437," Alexa said precisely.

"And how many does Malva's most popular video have?"

"7 856 213."

Serena scoffed. "Not even a problem for me," she said. "Our video making troupe is back in business: we are going to make a new PR video, with twice the budget as before!"

"But two times zero is still zero," Trevor pointed out snidely.

"Hush, Trevor! Our new PR video will not only put Malva in so much shame that she can never face her audience again, but will put me squarely in people's minds as their future ruler and the savior of this sorry excuse for a world!"

"Is it just me or is she a little scary?" Emma whispered a Tierno.

"Emma," Tierno muttered seriously, "I mean this from the bottom of my heart when I say: it's not just you. But, you know, you get used to it."

"But Serena," Shauna said before Serena could ask what Tierno and Emma were talking about, "Calem's not here."

"Oh, my, what a tragedy," Serena deadpanned, walked over to Emma and put her hand on her shoulder. "Lucky for us, we have a new Calem right here! And, Emma, do you want to know why you're even better than the old Calem?"

"Why's that?" Emma asked warily.

"Because you're not him!"

Trevor laughed cruelly, but Shauna looked a bit uncertain.

"We'll fit his name somewhere in the credits," Serena promised her. "Seriously, I thought I told you to stop worrying about him! Remember how he was a jerk and stuff?"

"I remember," Shauna said sadly. "But he's still been a friend of mine since I was five..."

Serena rolled her eyes and turned back to Alexa.

"Listen, I don't care what it takes, we're making a video and someone is going to pay us for it!" she told her. "Figure something out!

"Weee-eell, there is one thing," Alexa said slowly and tapped her lower lip contemplatively. "We could be the ones to pay you. We could use some visibility in the intertubes."

"Great!" Serena said, then glared at Alexa suspiciously. "Wait, what's the catch?"

"We get 90 percent of the ad revenue."

"That's evil... but I can respect that! All right, it's a deal. Firefox Productions is back in business!"

~o~O~o~

"Firefox Productions Present,

a Serena film

Meticulously Written by Serena

Beautifully Directed and Filmed (mostly) by Serena

Painstakingly Produced by the Purging Might of All-Consuming Fire

SERENA 2.0: YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE – DAY OF THE RECKONING (DIRECTOR'S CUT)

© Serena and no one else 2XXX All rights are hers, you can't have them, GTFO"

You see before you a dark landscape, ravaged by the greed, selfishness and unfabulousity of the regimes of times passed. The greatest city in all of civilization, Lumiose, is but a wreckage of crushed dreams, a deserted town taken over by scum and villainy. A lone girl, Emma, carrying her Espurr (played by a flour bag painted purple and big googly eyes attached to it), her only friend, is making her way through, hoping to reach her destination, but hope is on short supply.

Her journey is cut off when someone stands in her way. An evil person wearing a white suit, a creepy fedora and a thick fake mustache, holding a diamond-tipped cane that Serena found from the studio's prop department. The evil person, played by Shauna, did a surprisingly good evil laughter.

"What do we have here?!" Shauna asked hammily and leaned on her cane. "What business do you two have here? This is my town, y'hear? I own all of this! And under my rule, clothes stores and cute cafés will be demolished, and there will be no more Lumiose Galettes for anyone! The filthy poor people will be put in a neat little district where everyone is forced to wear drab gray uniforms and where they sell chili in summertime and Casteliacones during winter! Fufufufu!"

"Dear, sir... I think," Emma pleaded. "I merely wish to pass by. I am but a humble traveler on my way to become a Pokémon trainer! It's been my lifelong dream, ever since I was a three days old and accidentally swallowed my mom's PokéDex!"

"Pokémon trainer?!" Shauna mocked and laughed again, holding her hand vertically below her mouth. "O~hohoho! You?! Keep dreaming, kid! You are but street trash, fit only to support the lowest part of the pyramid, the top of which are us, the ruling class! Ho-ho-ho-ho!"

"This could be dangerous, Mimi," Emma told the flour bag. "You better run!"

Emma dropped the flour bag, which remained motionless on the prop ground. Glancing at the camera awkwardly, Emma kicked the bag until it was finally out of frame.

"That's it, Mimi!" Emma yelled. "Save yourself! Become the Pokémon you were meant to be! Believe in the me who believes in the you who believes in the you who believes in the... hold on a sec..."

"Enough talk!" Shauna declared boisterously. "I am going to make you disappear now! Boys!"

Tierno dragged Emma's 'henchmen', basically cardboard cut-outs of famous bodybuilders, next to Emma, who did her best scream of terror even if the cut-outs didn't do anything.

"If only the Champion were here," Emma wailed. "Champion Diantha, please save me!"

The camera turned to Trevor, dressed in his best Diantha cosplay, talking to a cell phone nearby and ignoring Emma's pleas.

"Sorry, hun," he said without bothering to change his voice, "I'd love to help, but I'm in the middle of filming my latest movie, 'How I Learned To Not Care About Any Of You And Love Just My Acting Career'. Like, I didn't become a Champion to help people! What are you thinking? Silly street trash!"

"Somebody," Emma cried and collapsed on the ground, "anybody... help..."

Shauna smirked evilly. "Farewell!"

"Stop right there, criminal scum!" yelled a voice in the distance.

Emma looked up at the prop sky, her eyes filled with tears of joy. The last ray of light in the darkness that was Kalos, long, dark hair flowing in the wind, her stylish appearance blinding her foes – Serena, riding her Charizard, the Pokémon beloved by all except those who are wrong.

"Curses, it's Serena!" Shauna announced. "The one who always defeats me and foils my evil plans!"

"That's right, you vile creature whose name I didn't remember to write down!" Serena announced. "I despise you and all that you represent! In the name of Mars, I shall chastise you! Charizard, use Flamethrower, but..."

Serena leaned closer to Charizard and whispered into her ear:

"...go easy, we're just acting and this stage is full of wood and cardboard, you know."

Charizard nodded and blasted at Shauna and her cardboard henchmen with fire. The cardboard cut-outs burned quickly, while Shauna only lost her fake mustache. She gasped in horror, having wanted to wear it in the future, but quickly got back into character.

"Damn you, Serena!" she yelled and shook her fist at her. "I shall retuuuuuuurn!"

Tierno rushed on the stage and dropped a smoke bomb, then quickly left while Shauna left the stage, laughing maniacally. Serena and Charizard landed next to Emma, Serena jabbing Charizard with her elbow to make it crouch as she couldn't fit into frame. Serena then helped Emma stand up while smiling at her.

"Have no fear, child," she said, "for I, soon-to-be immortal ruler of you all, am here. A new era of happiness will begin here."

"Oh, Serena, you are so amazing," Emma said, internally gagging at the dialogue she had to perform. "Could I one day become a quarter as strong as you are?"

"Child, I sense great strength in you," Serena said, to which Emma turned away from the camera and rolled her eyes, "one day, you can become at least one tenth as strong as me!"

"...wha-"

"And I promise you this," Serena interrupted loudly, "you, and everyone who is tired of the way things go around here, are free to join my ever-growing army! Together, we shall overthrow all who oppose our utopia!"

"Wow, Serena," Emma sighed. "Could I become Champion one day, too?"

"Let's not go nuts, that post is for me," Serena muttered and squeezed Emma's shoulder painfully. "Also, no improvising!"

The scene changed to another corner of this desolate, fake Lumiose, where an excited Tierno wearing a hoodie with Malva's picture on it, was standing in a 'group' of people – the people played by more cardboard cut-outs, including the ones burned by Charizard before.

"My idol, Malva is coming!" Tierno announced to the camera. "I love her videos! They cheer me up whenever I'm feeling blue! Oh, here she is!"

Shauna, dressed as Malva, walked past the 'crowd' with her nose in the air and a stuck-up expression on her face.

"Ms. Malva, you're my hero!" Tierno yelled at her. "It would be the greatest moment of my life if you'd give me an autograph!"

"Dream on, ruffian!" Shauna said, doing her best Malva impression. "I'm off to go steal galettes from children's mouths and throw rocks at Fletchling, 'cause that's how I roll!"

A disappointed Tierno took off his hoodie, revealing he was wearing a T-shirt with Serena's picture on it underneath. He struggled to rip the hoodie apart for a few seconds, but when he couldn't, Tierno glanced at the camera awkwardly and then just tossed it away.

"My dreams have been shattered!" Tierno wailed and got on his knees. "I can't think for myself! If only there was a person worth devoting my life to!"

He then dramatically turned to look at the picture on his T-shirt and snapped his fingers.

"Ah! Of course!" Tierno overacted. "Serena! The up-and-coming trainer I heard so much about and who also uses fire-types, but does it so much better than that Malva, whose name I hardly even remember anymore!"

Through the magic of editing, Serena and her Delphox suddenly appeared next to Tierno. Serena put her hand on Tierno's shoulder and helped him stand.

"Serena!" Tierno gasped. "Life is worth living again!"

"That's right, my friend," Serena told him reassuringly. "If you devote yourself to me, things will be better for all, I promise. Here."

Serena gave Tierno a photo of her. As the camera zoomed in, it turned out to be a picture of her sitting on a throne of skulls with a blazing fire behind her, smirking maliciously... while petting her adorable Sylveon.

"Thank you, beautiful trainer," Tierno said. "And her almost as beautiful Delphox! Can you sign it for me, too?"

Serena laughed. "Of course not, you little fool," she said kindly. "Now run along and go worship your new master."

"Yes, ma'am!" Tierno said and ran off.

Delphox picked the hoodie with Malva's picture on it and used her wand to set it on fire. The camera zoomed in on the hoodie slowly burning.

Then, the scene cut to Serena, with Delphox, Charizard, Talonflame, Combusken and Sylveon on the background.

"Remember," she said to the camera with a wink, "I will be the immortal leader of you all soon, but I can't do without help! Your support and loyalty when the time is right is crucial to my master plan! So remember the name: Serena~ !"

Serena smiled for the camera for a while, but it soon turned to a nasty glare when she noticed something.

"Trevor!" she yelled at the camera operator. "You're using the wrong lense, you stupid piece of-"

"Fin.

Resemblances to real people or events are entirely coincidental, so you can't sue me, suckers! Serena rules you all! Join or burn! Fwahahahaaa!"

~o~O~o~

As Serena wrapped up the shoot and she and the group finished editing, Serena prepared to bring the video to Alexa. However, someone else was also in the studio, watching from the sidelines and clapping sarcastically – Malva. Serena's blood boiled at the sight of her.

"I didn't realize first-year film school people were doing a project here," Malva told Serena, who was marching towards her. "Nice to meet you again, little firecracker. Celypa, was it?"

"Serena."

"Oh, of course," Malva laughed – Serena swore that she was just pretending to have forgotten it. "I hope your video is a success, my friend."

"That's all you have to say to me?" Serena said quietly as she glared at Malva, who just smiled smugly with her arms crossed. "You attacked my Lucario. I am going to pay back for every bruise, scratch and burn on Lucario's body, and then some, you-"

"Before you do that," Malva said calmly and gestured up at the ceiling, "you might want to reconsider that. This place is full of surveillance cameras, and I'm a respected celebrity while you're just a barely known trainer with a, shall we say, inflamed reputation."

Serena glanced at the ceiling briefly. "I don't see any cameras."

"That would defeat their purpose, wouldn't it?"

"You're bluffing!"

"Can you count on it?" Malva asked.

Serena didn't want to get fooled by the same trick twice, but the way Malva looked at her with complete confidence made her hesitate, so she just clenched her teeth and did nothing, which prompted Malva to laugh.

"As I thought," she chuckled. "Now, as a respected idol, I wouldn't dream of hurting another's Pokémon so brutally like that. But hypothetically, were I an admin high in the ranks of Team Flare-"

Serena pointed at Malva. "You just confessed it!"

"Confessed what, my dear?" Malva teased. "I don't remember saying anything. Besides, these surveillance cameras don't record sound. It's my word against yours, firecracker. Just accept it."

Serena ground her teeth together, wanting so badly to burn this person with her own hands.

"Hypothetically speaking," Malva said, "dear Ms. Aliana would have probably ordered me to keep your poor Lucario out of the way while Ms. Bryony and Ms. Celosia did their magic on your friend, um... Julie was it? Or was it Camille..."

"I knew it!" Serena snapped. "But you failed! That thing is never going to hurt anyone again?"

"Are you sure?" Malva asked playfully, smiling when Serena got even more frustrated. "Now, I have a message from the good folks at – well, you know who I mean. It would be wise for you to stop prying into our affairs and getting in our way. And it would especially do you good to stop looking for the fabled Pokémon... what was it called again? The life Pokémon? Pokémon X?"

Serena scoffed. "Or what?" she asked and crossed her arms just like Malva. "In case you haven't figured it out, I'm not afraid of you freaks!"

Malva nodded at the stage behind Serena, who turned to look. Shauna, Tierno and Emma were happily chatting while putting the sets and props back into the storage rooms while Trevor was sitting in front of the computer, putting his finishing touches on the film, adding some subliminal messages about how people should support him – along with some lens flares.

Serena turned to stare at Malva in shock. "You wouldn't!"

"Let's see," Malva said as she stared at Serena's companions. "Your friends, right?"

"My minions!" Serena protested.

Malva just smiled. "Shauna, Tierno and Trevor, right?" she asked. "From Vaniville Town? Well, Trevor also has a sister who lives right here in the city? And the fourth one is the orphan living on the alleys of Lumiose, huh? Often seen with an Espurr? She shouldn't be too hard to get to..."

"Okay!" Serena hissed.

She had a hard time believing it, but the freaks in orange suits with their silly poses and easily defeated Pokémon... had actually one-upped her. Even if her PR video overshadowed Malva's, it seemed like a hollow victory. Serena turned to look at the smiling faces of Shauna, Tierno and Emma, ignorant of what was going to happen to them...

"Do what you want, then!" Serena told Malva. "I didn't care in the first place until you idiots got in my way. I'll just keep getting badges and becoming stronger, like I wanted to..."

"Yes, please do," Malva said and leaned over to pinch Serena's cheek obnoxiously. "I'm really looking forward to see how far you'll go. Maybe we'll even battle some day. Ciao!"

As Malva left, Emma walked over to Serena curiously.

"Were you just talkin' to someone?" she asked, apparently having just missed Malva.

"Uh, just one of the people working here," Serena lied. "What's up?"

Emma suddenly went awkward, as if she wanted to say something but was afraid of Serena's reaction.

"Um..."

"Just tell me, Emma!"

"I had a really fun time!" Emma said sincerely. "Acting was fun – and tell Shauna that she ain't such an annoying ditz after all. She was really into her performance! And thanks for the lunch, too. It's just... a friend of mine has, uh, been associating with the Lumiose Gang lately. He might be in trouble, and I want to make sure-"

"You can go," Serena assured her. "Though I won't be staying in Lumiose much longer. I'm leaving tonight. But, uh, Tierno and Trevor will most likely stay, so you can still meet up with them."

"That's a shame," Emma said. "When will you be back?"

"...I'm not sure. Not for a while, though. I still need three more badges. But once I'm at the top, I'm counting on your support! And Mimi's too!"

Emma laughed and sprinted away. "You bet!" she yelled. "Bye!"

Once everything was done, Serena took the finished video to Alexa, who gave the group their reward: a whopping five thousand. Serena, Shauna, Tierno and Trevor then gathered outside the Lumiose Press to split it up evenly.

"And by evenly," Serena said, "I mean half for me, half for the rest of you. Uh, Tierno, can I trust on you making sure Emma gets her share?"

"Sure thing!" Tierno said cheerfully while Trevor said something quiet in protest, only to be ignored. "Wow, you're really getting along well with her! I would have never guessed! I mean, uh, well I just assumed... I'm not saying you're anti-social or scary or anything..."

"I get it," Serena deadpanned. "Run along now."

As Tierno left, Serena turned to look at Trevor, who looked as awkward and surprised as always when people were directly addressing him.

"What about you?" Serena asked him. "What will you do?"

Trevor stared at the ground awkwardly. "I will retreat to my sister's place to continue my studies to become the world's leading Pokémon scholar and make more money than all of you puny beings, including that flirtatious fool, who isn't worthy of the title of Hunky McGorgeous. It will be much better without your filthy germs getting all over the door handles and toilet seats-"

"Yeah, I didn't ask for your life story, just keep yourself safe and contact me if you learn anything new," Serena said, and Trevor left. "Well, Shauna, it looks like it's you and me again."

"Great~!" Shauna said excitedly. "And if you want to leave Lumiose to go see some other place, I'm okay with that! Where do you plan to go next?"

"Laverre City, to the north," Serena said. "That's where the next gym is?"

Shauna tilted her head in confusion. "Gym?" she wondered. "I know you want to get stronger, but I thought you'd want to find that legendary Pokémon..."

"Shauna," Serena said seriously. "That thing is going to have to wait for a while. I would like you to forget everything related to-"

"All done!"

Serena frowned. "Wow, uh, that was fast."

"Yeah~! I don't worry about these things too much."

"Well, good. Laverre City awaits!"

~o~O~o~

Location: Route 14, Kalos

Of course, before leaving Lumiose, Serena took advantage of the last chance to visit Coiffure Clips. She went with a side-swept look on the front and styled the hair on the back on a long ponytail, which looked quite like a differently-colored version of Korrina's, only it didn't defy gravity like hers did. Shauna also experimented with about ten different styles, frustrating the stylist, until she went with a look that looked almost exactly like her old one. They also finally visited the Pokémon Center to cure Lucario once Shauna reminded Serena of it.

After that, Serena and Shauna were making their way through the boggy swamps of Laverre Nature Trail, hoping to get to Laverre City before midnight, as it looked like it was about to rain and the terrain wasn't to Serena's liking. She was already cursing about her shoes being ruined after stepping on a puddle for the seventh time. As they walked past a creepy, abandoned playground, Shauna clung closer to Serena.

"Come on, Shauna," Serena admonished her. "There's nothing to be scared of."

"But places like this creep me out," Shauna complained, then suddenly stopped and practically shrieked into Serena's ear: "Serena! Look! A g-g-ghost-"

"Ghost-type Pokémon?" Serena asked hopefully. "Maybe a Lampent or a Heat Rotom?"

"N-no, a ghost-type person! Look!"

Serena looked at where Shauna was pointing. A boy with dark sunglasses and a blue jacket stood in the sandbox for some reason, looking dramatically in the other direction as his dark hair and long, red scarf waved dramatically in the wind. He was tossing a Poké Ball carelessly from one hand to another in a way that reminded Serena of something.

"I think that's a plain old trainer, Shauna," Serena said and took out a Poké Ball of her own. "And if we get him to make eye contact with us, we can squeeze him out of all the money he's got. Better get the Amulet Coin ready..."

As Serena started digging through her bag, stuffed full of things she'd need on her journey, the boy turned to look at Serena and Shauna, jumped out of the sandbox and took his sunglasses off dramatically. Shauna let out an excited squeal when she saw who the boy was, prompting Serena to look too.

"Calem!" Shauna yelled and ran to meet him. "Calem! Calem! Calem!"

"Yes, we've established that," Serena sighed quietly.

"Calem, how you've been?!" Shauna asked him excitedly. "What have you been doing since the Power Plant? Have you traveled too? Oh, did you hear Serena has five badges now? Ooh, ooh, and we met this really cool girl called Emma and her Espurr in Lumiose and I bought like soooo much stuff and do you like my new hair and do you want to see my Snorlax do a-"

"Shauna, please," Calem said calmly. "I'm doing good, and I'm glad to see you guys are still traveling together. Hi, Serena."

"Sup," Serena greeted lazily. "Hate to break it to you, by the way, but that pose you did there wasn't as cool as you think it was."

Calem didn't seem to register the insult. "Congratulations on your victory, neighbor. Oh, and Shauna, to answer your question, I have been in many places. I now have four badges, thanks to a little backtracking, including a trip back to Shalour City. Serena, would you like to see something cool?"

"Sure, but I'd need you to leave my sight first."

Calem just smiled, still not either getting or reacting to Serena's snark. He walked a little closer to Serena and pulled back his sleeve, showing that he was wearing a black bracelet with a colorful little jewel attached to it. Serena cringed at the sight of it, remembering Sycamore's words back at the Lysandre Café.

"No way," Serena said. "You? They gave you a Mega Ring? Out of all the damn people..."

"It turns out Gurkinn did have a spare – his own," Calem said dramatically. "It was a grueling battle against Korrina, but I was able to best her."

"How many tries did it take, like three?" Serena taunted.

"No, four, actually – I mean!" Calem calmed himself when he remembered he was trying to be cool and aloof. "It matters not. You defeated me before, but now that we both have Mega Rings, we're on equal footing again. So how about it, neighbor? Want to treat me to a Pokémon battle?"

"All right!" Shauna cheered. "I can be a referee! Will you do it, Serena? Please? Pleaaaaaaaaaa-"

"Shauna!" Serena snapped. "And yes, I will. For your sake. And this chump probably won't leave me alone if I don't. Okay, hotshot, you decide the rules."

"It would be my pleasure," Calem said and bowed, accidentally dropping his sunglasses and breaking them. "Aww, man! Ahem, I mean... let's try a three-Pokémon-knockout-match! Basically, we use three different Pokémon and don't switch out until one has been defeated. Best out of three wins."

"So I only have to beat two of yours to win," Serena said and nodded. "All right, good idea. I won't have to stand the sight of you much longer, then."

Calem laughed. "You sure like teasing me, Serena – and I like it when you do it. It makes me feel like I'm close to you-"

"Battle, please," Serena threatened.

"Right!" Calem squeaked and flipped his scarf back to get it out of the way. "For my first Pokémon, I'll choose... Clefable!"

Calem surprised Serena with his first choice: a cutesy, pink, vaguely star-shaped Pokémon with big ears. Serena was almost certain that he wasn't going to send out something with lots of teeth, claws and/or cannons, thinking only superficially strong ones were good enough. But then Serena figured out what Calem was trying to do and sent out her Talonflame.

"They say that the key to victory is the element of surprise. So... start off without strongest attack, Clefable!" Calem instructed. "In the name of the moon, I shall punish you! Moonblast!"

"Hey, that's my thing!" Serena complained. "Talonflame, dodge it!"

Talonflame was fortunately faster, but the attack still grazed it.

"Surprise!" Calem yelled and laughed while Serena just looked on condescendingly. "Caught you off-guard, didn't I? You see, even if you knew what a Clefable was, you were unaware of its secret asset, the fact that-"

"It's a fairy-type," Serena interrupted, making Calem look disappointed. "I did do a lot of research on fairies before I got here, because I wanted an edge against those arrogant dragon tamers that Unova is full of."

"I thought Clefable was a normal-type," Shauna commented.

"Get with the program, Shauna!" Serena snapped while maintaining eye contact with Calem. "Talonflame, Acrobatics!"

Clefable prepared itself as Talonflame confused a gem that it was holding. However, as it attacked, Talonflame's speed was far too great for Clefable to block. It seemed Talonflame disappeared and reappeared as it struck Clefable multiple times, easily knocking Clefable out. Calem looked stunned as he withdrew Clefable, while Serena scratched Talonflame below the chin before withdrawing it.

"How?!" Calem whined.

"Yeah, that's a new strategy I learned," Serena explained. "Your Pokémon always use held items, don't they? Well, without a hold item bothering it, Talonflame became much lighter and got more power out of Acrobatics. Coupled with the boost I got from the Flying Gem, your Clefable should have just raised the white flag right away.

Calem grimaced, but didn't press the issue further, instead sending out his next Pokémon: a Flareon.

"Are you trying to make me care for you even less?!" Serena yelled at Calem, who flinched, having expected Serena to like it. "First of all, I'm the fire expert here! Second... I wanted a Flareon!"

"How was I supposed to know?" Calem wondered.

"Serena, calm down," Shauna advised.

But Serena ignored her and tossed her next Poké Ball in the air much more roughly than usual, sending out her Combusken.

"Start off with Double Kick!" Serena shouted.

"Dodge!" Calem yelled.

Much as Combusken tried, Flareon moved expertly out of the way. Flareon then attacked Combusken with a Swift attack, barraging it with a beam of glowing, jagged stars.

"You're not the only one here who can turn speed into an advantage!" Calem taunted.

"You seriously need to pay attention," Serena countered.

Calem licked his lips and didn't respond; Serena hadn't ever seen him concentrate on a battle so hard. Usually he just assumed he'd win – and then end up getting thrashed. Calem ordered Flareon to use Take Down, but Serena ordered Combusken to block by using Protect. After doing so, Calem noticed Combusken's feet, having gotten brighter and brighter as the battle progressed, were practically glowing now.

"What's this about?" Calem wondered.

"Speed Boost," Serena said. "I gotta thank Iris again for this. Combusken, Brick Break!"

Flareon was too slow to dodge Combusken's next move and was hit hard as Combusken chopped it with its hand.

"Dig!" Calem ordered.

Flareon disappeared under the ground – and for once, Serena had to admit Calem had made the right move. The terrain was so uneven and swampy that Serena couldn't tell where Flareon was, and before Serena knew it, Flareon re-emerged and pounced at Combusken, knocking it out. Still, as Serena withdrew Combusken, Flareon looked exhausted, too, the wet ground having drained it of its energy.

"Yes!" Calem cheered as he recalled Flareon without bothering to congratulate it. "I finally did it! I knocked out one of your Pokémon!"

"Stop the presses," Serena deadpanned. "I gotta say, you Flareon hits pretty hard."

"We've been working the bags," Calem said proudly. "That's how we were able to beat Korrina and Ramos: three hours of hitting the bags and three more hours of Super Training every day since I lost to you at the Tower of Mastery!"

Serena just smiled – that pretty much confirmed her suspicions. But even so, she had to be careful. The next battle would decide the outcome of the entire match, and Serena was going to even risk being humiliated by that jabbering idiot – Calem still hadn't used his Mega Ring yet.

Both Serena and Calem waited for the other to move first, but Calem's patience ran out and he sent out something Serena had expected to see since the gang had visited Sycamore's lab: Venusaur. Without even waiting for Serena to send out her own Pokémon, Calem raised his hand dramatically and touched the key stone on his Mega Ring.

In a dazzling display of colors and shapes, Venusaur Mega Evolved. Mega Venusaur didn't look too different from the regular one, especially when compared to Charizard, having grown bigger and sturdier, with an extra pink flower on its head. Smirking, Serena responded by sending out... Sylveon.

Calem looked mildly surprised. "Wow, I thought you were all about fire," he commented.

"You think you know me so well," Serena countered. "I'm not stupid enough to let an opportunity to use my second-favorite type slip by."

"Also, it was supposed to be a Flareon," Shauna commented, much to Serena's dismay.

"I see," Calem laughed. "Well, excuse me for saying this, but my nature as a gentleman demands it: Sylveon has the type disadvantage, you know."

Serena just smiled. "Get started," she said simply. "I'm letting you make the first move."

Calem wasted no time. "Let's weaken it first," he yelled. "Venusaur, Razor Leaf!"

"Sylveon, Reflect!" Serena ordered.

As Sylveon put a protective barrier around him, the razor leaves Mega Venusaur shot at him just bounced off harmlessly. Calem clenched his teeth, but recovered quickly.

"Okay, then, if you want to end this battle right here and right now... Venusaur, Sludge Bomb!"

"Light Screen!"

Sylveon put up another invisible barrier around him, and as the Sludge Bomb hit, only some of the poison got through, most of it splashing harmlessly around Sylveon, who hadn't even been poisoned. Calem cringed.

"Is that all?" Serena asked coolly. "Alright, then. Sylveon – Psyshock!"

Calem's eyes widened. "Huh?"

Sylveon's eyes flashed as three orbs of energy, light blue, dark blue and purple in color, appeared above him. He then launched the orbs at Venusaur, who was too big and bulky to dodge and was instantly knocked out by the attack. In a flash of light, Mega Venusaur's form returned to that of a normal Venusaur.

Face blank, Calem slowly raised his hand to withdraw his Pokémon while Shauna cheered for Serena's victory while Serena praised Sylveon for his good work before returning him. When Calem just stood still and muttered quietly to himself, as if unable to understand what was going on, Serena finally confronted him.

"When you said you trained your Pokémon these past few days," Serena said coldly, "you meant you were only focusing on offensive power, right? I noticed that with the Flareon – you didn't invest much effort in defense. A few more seconds and Flareon would have been knocked out as well. Also, did you even listen when I told you how I studied fairies? Of course I'd make sure they're ready against poison-types! You still haven't learned a thing, haven't you?"

Calem stood still, shoulders hunched as he stared at the ground in shame. Serena walked right past him, glancing at Shauna.

"We need to get to Laverre," Serena told Shauna. "Are you coming or what?"

Shauna hurried to Serena, but stopped to look at Calem, who looked like he was on the verge of tears and hid his face from Shauna. Serena clucked her tongue impatiently.

"Um," Shauna started, "it was nice to know that you're still okay, Calem... bye!"

"Serena!" Calem yelled suddenly and turned to look at Serena determinedly. "The next time we meet, I will defeat you! And I know a perfect way for us to test our skills."

"Don't say 'push-up contest' or something, because we both know you'll just lose that," Serena jabbed.

"The Pokémon we got from Sycamore, the ones Trevor and Tierno brought us!" Calem shouted and pointed at Serena dramatically. "My Greninja against your Braixen-"

"It's a Delphox now," Serena said.

"Even better! Our starters, the ones we've had for the same amount of time. If you truly think you're better than me-"

"I know I am."

"-then you'll battle me one-on-one! You starter against mine! Um, I mean, if that's okay with you...?"

Serena stared at Calem for a while, as if evaluating him. Calem did not turn away.

"All right," she said finally. "Seems like a nice challenge. The next time we'll meet, it's on. I suggest you stop slacking with your training and get serious before that. Now, is that all you have to say or can we go?"

"One more thing," Calem said and used his scarf to cover most of his face awkwardly, pretending it was cold. "I... I'm sorry I deceived you all. Especially you, Shauna. I didn't know what kind of man Looker really was, I just assumed he stood for justice. Serena, I didn't want to ruin your dreams or anything like that. I wanted to save you from yourself, before you got hurt doing something crazy. But... it looks like I don't have to worry about that..."

"Oh, so you assumed that I couldn't take care of myself?" Serena countered mercilessly. "No, wait, worse than that. You assumed you know what's best for me better than I do?"

"N-no!" Calem protested. "Or... maybe I did. Either way, I know what I did was wrong. And I will not work for that guy again! Or anyone else who is against you! I just... want to become stronger. Can you forg-"

"Idiot!"

Serena was surprised when it wasn't her that yelled that. It was Shauna, whose tone had definitely scared Calem, too. There wasn't a sight of her usual cheer to be seen – Shauna was breathing heavily and it looked like she was restraining herself from jumping at Calem and beating him into a pulp.

"Shauna?" Serena wondered. "Are you okay?"

"You idiot!" Shauna raged at Calem, who was positively quivering now. "You've been acting like this as soon as Serena got here! You couldn't handle not being the strongest anymore, was that it? Is that all you care about?! You lied to us and acted like that this whole trip, and that's all you have to say?! I hate you!"

And once she was done, Shauna turned around and stomped off, not even bothering to look behind her. The look on Calem's face was like Shauna had hit her in the face with a giant mallet – though that might have actually hurt less. Serena just shrugged.

"Well, that was a thing," she commented. "For what it's worth, Calem... I don't really care that you did that anymore. I have bigger things on my mind. I'd advise you head to Lumiose next, though I wouldn't bother trying to talk to Tierno and Trevor – they're still not very fond of you. And, as a fair warning, if you see Team Flare doing something, just leave them be. Not that I care about your safety, but... you need to consider the fact that someone else might get hurt, too."

This made Calem even more nervous and upset. "Uh... s-sure," he stuttered and looked after Shauna, who was still walking away from him. "Um, she... what did... I mean, can you... to her..."

"Talk to her for you?" Serena asked and scoffed. "Nah, I won't. You'll have to figure out what to say yourself. I'm off – oh, but one last thing."

"Huh?"

Serena walked over to Calem and opened her palm. "I beat you in a battle, right? So, pay up!"

Once Calem left, Serena had 3700 more reasons to forget what he did. But forgetting wasn't the same as forgiving, which he would soon have to learn. Serena then ran after Shauna, wandering if she had reached Laverre already.

~o~O~o~

Location: Lumiose Station, Lumiose City, Kalos

Looker had attempted to stay in the shadows, but his sense of justice and need to show off had gotten the better of him. At the moment, he was surrounded by Lumiose Gang members on all sides, the gang having gathered near some unused train carriages. The one in charge, Punk Guy Nix, was laughing derisively at Looker, who had explained his reason for being there.

"You'd hafter be off yer trolley to come alone an' pick a fight us, mate!" Nix told him in a thick, inexplicable accent.

"If you return the Pokémon, none shall be harmed," Looker fronted. "Failure to do so will mean having to deal with the most hard-boiled, ruthless and relentless detective to ever grace this city – Looker!"

"Yer jokin', right old man?!" a Punk Girl laughed. "If we just give 'em back wit' a pretty please and thank-you, sir, why'd we bother stealin' sumfink?!"

"...would you be interested in perhaps illuminating me as to what you're attempting to say, miss?" Looker asked.

"What's this ol' bugger yammerin' on about, eh?" another gang member asked.

"Look, mate," Nix told Looker and put out his cigarette on his tongue coolly – only to almost get tears in his eyes from this desperate attempt to look cool. "Um, anyway, ever since Emma went to live at yours, she ain't never come round to hang wit' us! Why'd we nab these lame Pokémon, didy'ask yerself? We wanted to wheel you into our cheery ol' manor, we did, you blighter! So get yer Pokémon out for a battle! If yer win, yer take the Pokémon! But... if yer lose, yer got nothin' more to do with our Emma!"

Looker sighed and dusted his coat.

"I cannot accept your challenge," he said.

"Oo-er, yer too scared to fight, eh?" the Punk Girl taunted. "Or ar yer givin' it that yer don't have even a single Pokémon to stand by yer?"

Looker scowled and didn't bother to respond – and he didn't understand half of what was being said, anyway.

Nix, though, didn't look too happy about that. "You gotta be bloody kiddin' me! I cannae kick your arse to the curb if yer don't have any Pokés! That just ain't right! Look, go find some tall grass or somethin'."

"Enuff with that, Nix, I wanna scuffle with this ponce already!" a random gang member yelled. "For Emma, anything! For yer, a knuckle sandwich! Go, Bouffalant!"

But the enormous Bouffalant who tried to attack Looker with its horns was suddenly pulled into the air without Looker having to do anything. Everyone just stared in confusion as the Bouffalant rose high before it crashed down and was easily knocked out.

"Yer wut?!" Nix yelled and looked around him.

Looker did the same, wondering who his savior was. Bouffalant had definitely been surrounded by a pale blue glow before it was lifted, which meant a psychic-type Pokémon had interfered with...

"Emma!" Looker yelled.

Everyone turned to stare as Emma and Mimi waved cheerfully from the roof of the carriage. Using her powers, Mimi made both her and Emma float off the carriage and land safely on the ground, Emma glaring at Nix and the other gang members.

"You better stop this," she said firmly. "And return those stolen Pokémon!"

"Well if that don't take the biscuit!" Nix groaned and crossed his arms.

"There are sweets here?" Looker wondered.

"This all down to you, Emma!" Nix complained. "Yer just couldn't be bothered with us no more! What's the point of us if yer don't show up?! Yer the boss of the gang! Did yer think how we missed yer? Going off with this bad news and never a thought to yer old mates! Thanks for nothin'!"

Looker's eyes widened, but Emma still stared at Nix with determination, ignoring Looker's confusion.

"Oh, put a sock in it!" she snapped at Nix. "I said up front – don't count me in!"

"Emma," Looker started, "what is the meaning of-"

"It's all him, Mr. Looker!" Emma said as she stared at Nix in the eyes, Mimi standing by her side and doing the same with her big, creepy eyes. "He and his gang promised to help me out and took me in, but it turned out just as everyone else who took pity on me. He went ahead and called me boss without even asking what I wanted. I decide for myself! Now back off before I really lose it!"

As if to emphasize her words, Mimi's eyes glowed slightly, Nix taking a few steps backwards.

"Oi!" Nix told her. "Have yer forgotten? My Krookodile's a bloody dark-type, it is! Like little Mimi'll be able to do anything to that!"

"Yeah," Emma said with a smile highly reminiscent of Serena's when she was hatching her plans, "but do you think you can open a Poké Ball with those hands before Mimi's psychic energy turns them into pudding?"

Nix shivered, but nodded at the Punk Girl, who reluctantly gave a bunch of Poké Balls to Emma. Emma also made Nix apologize to Looker, and would no doubt force him to apologize to the tourist as well. Looker accepted the apology gracefully, still somewhat shocked over how Emma had pretty much solved the case for him. Still, he tried to retain his dignity.

"Well," he sighed. "I guess this is the right time to say: 'case closed'! Just one. More. Thing. You there! Since you surrendered somewhat peacefully, I'd like to say this is water under the bridge. After all, it is your intention to just be friends with Emma, am I correct?"

Nix scoffed. "You figured that out, eh?"

"Do not be mistaken," Looker said and assumed his signature chin-stroking pose. "When people act with evil intentions, I cannot turn away and lightly forgive such. Especially to people who do cruel and thoughtless things, like stealing people's beloved Pokémon..."

Nix scowled.

"However!" Looker said suddenly after a slight dramatic pause. "I believe... no. Not just believe. I KNOW! People and Pokémon are both capable of, well, 'evolving'. And so, if you give your word of honor not to ever lift a hand in cruelty again, then you may come by the Looker Bureau anytime to visit Emma... as her friends. If that is okay with Emma, I mean."

"Mr. Looker," Emma said quietly and turned to look at Nix. "I still remember how you guys got me food and clothes... and how you sheltered me from rain... and kept me and Mimi company... I'd like to still be in touch with you."

Nix turned away. "Y-yes, sir," he said quietly. "And, um, cheers, Emma... we'll honor our promise."

"Well, that's that!" Looker said and clapped his hands with finality. "Come along, Emma, let's return to the Bureau!"

"Right!" Emma said. "Come on, Mimi."

As Looker, Emma and Mimi left the Lumiose Station, carrying the Poké Balls on their laps, it was very quiet between them, Emma wondering how to start explaining, when it was Looker who opened his mouth first.

"Thank you very much for coming to my aid," he said. "I can understand why you didn't want me involved in this case."

"I'm sorry for what happened there," Emma said.

"If you learned something from this, that's all I need to hear," Looker said calmly. "And that would have developed into a sticky situation, had you not intervened. Perhaps I have been wrong, for the first time in my life, leaving you to the office like that. You are truly capable of being not just my assistant... but as my partner in the Looker Bureau!"

Emma couldn't help but smiling widely at that. "Thanks, Mr. Looker!" she said earnestly. "Me and Mimi will do our best to help you!"

"It looks like we already have our next case," Looker mused. "We must find the owners of these stolen Pokémon. Perhaps there are one or two rich people there too whom we can charge a little fee from, eh?"

"You bet!" Emma laughed. "What should my first task be?"

"Have you finished your studies yet?"

"Um... n-no..."

"Well, then you know where to start!"

~o~O~o~

That night, with Tierno having left Lumiose City to go train and find new dance moves, Trevor was alone in his room at his sister's place. He had spent most of the day jumping from one library and book store to the next, hoping to secure whatever literature he could find that had even one mention of the words 'Xerneas' or 'Yveltal'. But what he found wasn't something he was just going to tell Serena.

"Xerneas unleashes 'life energy'," Trevor mumbled as he read, then starting to cross-reference his pile of books for that word. "'Life energy', huh? Is that the same as 'aura' or 'qi'? Or is it just one part of it... the 'fuel that makes trees grow and flowers blossom'...?"

Trevor tapped his lower lip with his pen, not even realizing he was leaving little ink marks around his mouth.

"So the life energy can be released or drained, what the two Pokémon do," Trevor mumbled. "That arrogant fire-obsessed maniac wishes to become immortal, meaning she will have to absorb huge quantities of this energy. That means it can also be taken away from her... and even transferred."

Trevor grinned to himself.

"Interesting," he murmured and picked up his Xtransceiver, dialing the nearest hospital. "Yes, excuse me, I understand Mr. Clemont, the gym leader, was recently admitted there. May I speak to him, please? Just tell him that I'm a friend of Serena's."

It's all coming together, Trevor thought as he was being connected to Clemont's room. Soon these fools with truly know what the fear of Trevor feels like!

---

"Ah, another case successfully solved. But a detective as hard-boiled as me needs a break once in a while and Emma needs to continue her studying. She is learning to read properly with little difficulty, but she also keeps stressing over money despite my repeatedly telling her no to. However, she has also supplied me some interesting info on Serena. She has left the city, and I know exactly where, meaning she'll soon feel the full extent of my vengeance... but right now, me and Emma are off for some crème brûlées! Speaking of Serena, she will be up against Valerie of Laverre City next, confident that her knowledge of fairy-types is enough... little does she know that she's in for a surprise! Eagerly await the next installment of 'Heroes of Kalos Abridged'!"