Hello again, TheEnigmatic97 here. First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has read up to this point and are enjoying what I've type written over here for the past few weeks. Don't cry, this ain't the last chapter. This fanfic won't end until I write that last chapter. Well, this chapter is kinda special since, you know...

Now about this chapter: The group faces their fans and the press. And one moment will be above the rest...

So without further ado,

'In front of the Press'


-Professor Sycamore's Laboratory, Lobby, Makeshift Stage, 13:05-


When the group reached the backstage, they had their looks fixed. The two performers were about to have their make up on but Ash immediately whispered to Serena that she does not need to do so since "You look good as is." He said causing her to take a light shade.

"Yeah, I have to agree." Aria agreed while having her hair fixed "Some powder would do for the both of us."

"Is it true?" Serena wanted honesty

"Well, why would I ask you to avoid using make up when you perform?" Ash replied

"You told her that?" Aria asked in shock

"I did once." Ash replied while having his hands behind him "After a friend of mine told me that...ummm... she looks good as is."

"Why does it sound like that those words really come from you?" Aria continued her interrogation

"Okay, okay." Ash said "I told her since she kinda had problems during a showcase before and I just had to give her the confidence."

"It's normal for those two." Clemont said "They make each other feel great."

"And you deserve someone who could make you feel great as well." The youngest in the group said

"BONNIE!" Clemont shouted causing the rest of the group to laugh


When the group went out on stage to see their fans, they waved to them as they were chanting their names. Some brought their duplicate League Trophies. Some have their Princess Keys with them. Some were just there calling them to come near them. When the crowd of about fifty settled down, and the group sat down, a queuing line was made so that everyone had the opportunity to approach and talk to them for about a minute.

There was one fan who held out his badge case for an auto graph from Ash. There was another who took a picture with Ash and Serena which they didn't know that they are a couple at that point in time. Some had talks with the the lemon-blonde siblings, and had some "interesting" talks with Clemont regarding marriage and stuff, which Bonnie was just smiling at.

Then there are the fans who just wanted to get some advice from the trainers on stage.


"You know, I had a rough start as a trainer." Ash said "Everything did not go as I wanted, but I made it through."

"What did you do to survive those days?" the trainer asked

"Ash taught a valuable lesson to me, and possibly the rest of his friends." Serena replied "That is, to never give up."

"Never give up..." the trainer replied "I should do my best every time."

"Of course, I wouldn't have reached this level if I did not do my best." Ash said

"Can we battle some time?" the trainer asked

"Anytime" Ash replied "But not now, especially with this thing happening right now."

"How about tomorrow?" the trainer asked

"Absolutely, I'll ask Clemont if we could do it at the gym." Ash replied

"Thanks a lot."


"Serena, how did you move on from the disaster in Coumarine City?" a performer, probably who experienced the same asked

"Well, after that, I decided that I needed a change of pace, and look at me now." Serena replied

"What change of pace do you mean?" she asked

"It really depends on you." Serena replied "Maybe a few tweaks on your style, maybe, or just pushing on whatever happens."

"And never forget to smile." Aria added

"I still can't believe I'm talking to these great performers." the performer said

"And you'll be a great one too." Serena said with a smile


"When will you take charge of the Lumiose Gym again?" another trainer asked

"The next gym season will start in a few weeks" Clemont replied "I guess I'll take a few challengers, then I'll be on the road again."

"Why did you travel with Ash?" the trainer asked again

"We saw that he is a great person, and we knew that if we join him, me and Bonnie would learn something." The Gym Leader replied

"True, I kinda wanted to have some traveling companions as well." the trainer said

"You'll meet some eventually." Clemont replied "You know what? I guess I could take you as my first challenger for the start of the next season."

"It would be an honor to be one." the trainer said

"I hope to see you by that time." Clemont said before shaking hands with the trainer


-Professor Sycamore's Laboratory, Lobby, Makeshift Stage, 15:32-


When the meet and greet session ended, the group rested for about a few minutes backstage before they would face the press. Bonnie left the lobby to go to the enclosure to have a brief lesson from Professor Sycamore. The ones left had a small talk about what was to happen.

"I'm already excited on how you'll say it Ash." Aria said "By the way, did you have your... first kiss?"

The couple went red with the question. Undeniably, the two had been receiving a few pecks from each other time to time, but to do their first "true" kiss was different.

"We tried to have one on the road, and earlier." Serena replied

"But something had to ruin the moment." Ash said while nudging the inventor of the group

"Wait... what did I do?" Clemont wondered before he remembered one of his inventions explode "Oh, right."

"You also made me crazy for a few hours also, Ash." Serena said having her arms crossed

"What happened then?" Aria asked

"Well, he was supposed to do so, but he suddenly left me hanging." Serena replied "Then he pulled off a stunt afterwards."

"Why are you interested about it anyways?" Ash asked "I thought it had to be a special moment of some sort."

"You won't know Ash." Aria replied "It could happen at any unexpected moment."

"Speaking of which, I called Alexa before the League Conference happened and discussed some matters with her." Ash said "I know she would ask me about it later, and you might be surprised."

"What did you say to her?" Clemont asked

"Some things that I reflected for one night..." Ash replied while looking at Serena who nodded when she knew what he meant.


Outside, the media started to gather around the lobby, setting up cameras and microphones. The press conference would be broadcasted around the world, as Ash Ketchum, despite him keeping a low profile of some sort was still known for his achievements. There were some familiar faces in the crowd, including some famous journalists from the Kanto Region among others.

"I see some familiar faces outside," Ash said to the group "and there's Alexa." He then pointed to a woman with a Helioptile perched on her shoulder.

"Does she have an idea?" Clemont asked

"I remember what Alexa told me back then" Serena replied "Back in Santalune after Ash lost, we had a small talk, Alexa said that Ash needed the inspiration, and unexpectedly, it came from me."

"What happened afterwards?" Aria asked

"As much as I don't really say it," Ash replied "Magic happened."

"Awww... that's cute." Aria commented

A man approached the group telling them that they need to sit down on the table as the press conference was about to start. The group complied and sat down. The seating arrangement, from left to right, Aria, Serena, Ash, and Clemont.


-Professor Sycamore's Laboratory, Lobby, 16:03-


"Okay, now that they are here, we will start today's press conference." The moderator said over the address system "I have told you the rules earlier and those who violate are asked to leave the hall immediately."

The journalists nodded in understanding.

"Okay, let's start with the first question coming from you over there at the far end." The moderator pointed to a man wearing a formal attire holding a notebook and was handed out a microphone.

"Hello, my name is Rico from Saffron City Times." He introduced himself "and this question goes to Ash. How does it feel that you won the league conference here?"

"Good afternoon everyone." Ash replied "It feels so great to be able to bring back a trophy back home. You can't explain it, plus the feeling that you have the sole right to challenge this region's Elite Four, it's a great honor."

"A lot of people were asking if you are going to challenge the Indigo League again, do you consider to do so?" Rico asked

"I'm not considering it yet, but I guess it would come." Ash replied

"Thank you very much." Rico said

"Okay, next question?" The moderator said before pointing to a woman "You there at the right side."

"Hello, this is Gabby, a journalist from the Hoenn region." She introduced herself "This question goes to Serena. Have you heard about Pokémon Contests and if you did, do you consider participating in one?"

"Hello." Serena replied "I have heard about Pokémon Contests from Ash and his friends from Hoenn and Sinnoh. They do sound interesting, but with the way things are going here, I can't give a proper answer if I would participate in one."

"Okay," Gabby said "I have another question, this time for Clemont. Mr. Wattson, the Founder and Gym Leader of Mauville City, had heard about your electric shower invention and is willing to invest on it. Would you accept his offer?"

"Hello there. To be honest, I'm surprised by that news and I am greatly honored to be recognized outside Kalos." Clemont replied "Of course, I would gladly accept his offer. My dream is to invent stuff that make both people and Pokémon happy, and this is an achievement already. To Mr. Wattson, I would like to thank you for the offer."

"That is all from me." Gabby ended her questions before sitting down

"Okay next up," the moderator said "over there on the left side."

"Hello, I am Mike from Coumarine Daily." The journalist greeted "This question goes to Kalos Queen Aria. What are you plans after Saturday's Showcase, whatever the result is?"

"Hello." Aria replied "Well, there are two possible outcomes here. If I win, I'll retain my title and do showcases every now and then. If I lose to Serena, then I'll take it as something to work on, and build up to improve. I might take vacations too, depending on the schedule with all the TV appearances every once in a while."

"I see, but in case Serena would win, what would be your advice for her?" Mike asked

"Like what I say to my co-performers, keep that smile. It takes you to a distance." Aria replied while looking at her opponent "And make sure to keep that smile true, too."

"Thanks for the advice." Serena said before whispering "I knew what you meant with keeping your smile true."

"Okay, that's all from me" Mike said


The questions and answers kept on flowing for the next half hour. There were questions that are quite interesting, and some were plainly nonsense on one part. Some asked when would Ash return to Kanto, and he would reply that he will after everything is finished in Kalos. Some asked when Ash would challenge the league, and he would reply that when he would be ready. There were questions that plainly annoyed the group, but some had proper answers.

A few minutes later, as Ash expected, a familiar face raised her hand

"You over there, with the Helioptile." The moderator said "Oh, we have one of the big names from the Lumiose Press."

"Hello there, I am Alexa. I guess you know me since we met every once in a while during your travels." She said

"Of course we do." Ash replied drawing a small laughter from the small crowd "I would never be here if it were not because of you."

"Okay, the question goes to Ash. A few days before the League Conference started, you gave me a phone call discussing some matters." Alexa started "Given the closeness you and Serena have, there should be some development already. I am pretty sure that you know what I mean. What is the standing of your relationship with Serena?" (A/N: How blunt?)

The question immediately drew the attention of everyone in the lobby. They were surprised with the sudden change of the mood of the press conference. From some serious discussion about the Kalos League, the Pokémon Showcase, Clemont's inventions and others, it became into a celebrity talk show of some sort.

"How am I not surprised with you asking that?" Ash replied "First of all, to inform everyone, I called Alexa back then since something bothered me, and she was the only person I knew that could keep things until the right time. And I guess, this was the perfect time. If you're asking me what bothered me, I'll just keep it to me and Serena..."

Ash continued his small speech to the crowd. Everyone knew he was nervous while explaining. At times, he would stutter, repeat a sentence, and do some gestures that showed how nervous he is. Meanwhile, Serena, was just looking at him waiting for the moment he says the magic words. Clemont and Aria, on the other hand were bored and planned to do a stunt.

"I don't know but these two will be absolutely mad at us if we do this." Clemont whispered

"I know that Ash already wanted to say it, but he can't." Aria whispered back "And this is the only way that could give everyone the sign."

"Whatever happens, this will be your fault." Clemont replied

"Okay."

The two then prepared for the stunt. They counted from one to three

"One"

"Two"

"Three"

"WHOA!"

The two then pushed the couple to have their faces extremely near each other, to the point that their lips had a small contact, causing their faces to be red and they just smiled at each other.

"Oh wait, If you won't bother." Ash said "This will give the answ-"

Serena then let Ash face her and you know what happened. Sparks flew all over, the crowd went from silent to rowdy. Paper flew all over the place. Flashes from the photographers brightened up the scene. It was crazy alright.

For the young couple, the moment, as awkward it was at the start, it was special. It was their first "true" kiss. A moment that waited to happen, quite fast for some given that they were just a fairly new couple with a few days behind them. At first Ash, teased her on the road, on the second attempt, destiny had other plans, and maybe, third time's the charm. When the two pulled away, they just smiled at each other and said "I love you."

"Clemont, do you regret doing that?" Aria whispered

"Maybe not." Clemont replied "This would come anyway."

"So, congratulations to you, Ash and Serena." Alexa said "You two just made the greatest scoop after a few weeks of nothing interesting."

The rest of the journalists glared at her sudden loss of professionalism "Okay, I hope that you two last, and that's the answer I expected."

The crowd then applauded the new couple as they stood up, hands intertwined, giving them another treat to end the press conference.

"So that ends this afternoon's press conference." The moderator said "Thank you for giving us a quite interesting day."


"CLEMONT... ARIA..."

The couple glared at the two who pulled off a stunt causing a moment that they may have liked a lot, but something they did not expect to do IN PUBLIC.

"Aria planned this all along." Clemont said with his legs shaking

"We were bored with Ash's speech and I knew where it was going anyways." Aria added

"Talk about unexpected." Ash said

"What happened here?" Bonnie wondered what caused the rest of the group's antics, and they just smiled at her.


And that's for this chapter. I don't know why it took me about four hours in total in typing this. So, the first kiss has been made, huh? (I hope I did it right, especially that I had to be as conservative as possible to keep a K+ rating, and I hope I pulled it off.) Speaking of which, a few weeks ago, I made a guessing game on when the first kiss would happen and the winner is reader Woozart, congratulations.

To answer some reviews:

[reviewer] Minios0903: "A little bit improvement with grammar and this chapter will be perfect X) . God I love Delia's reaction and the Rhyhorn meme XD. I remember I was laughing my a** off when I first watched the episode. About the date, how about Ash taking Serena to Anistar city to see the sundial and then having some emotional talk ?"

[reply] I need to check my grammar, then. I'm glad that you liked a lot of stuff during the previous chapter, including the Rhydon (it was Rhydon when I did my research) reference. As for the date, I hope you checked my profile because you might see something interesting there.

[reviewer] Guest: "This was an excellent chapter. I can't wait to read chapter 11."

[reply] Well, here's the chapter, and I hope you like it.

Now, another side chapter is scheduled to be uploaded after this. A good preview maybe is: Ash's friends talk about something and plan a surprise.

About the next chapter: The group receives a phone call like no other. Gathered in a private meeting area in the laboratory, Ash and his friends have a small chat.

So there we go, TheEnigmatic97 here, peace!