Amelia had locked herself up in her suite. Just wanting to be away from the outside world she didn't wanted to face Ash again. She suddenly turned away from him and she wished that would be the end of it. No further questions she'd gone from being indifferent to liking it to hating being on the SS Shimmer.

"I should cancel that performance at the ball. He will be there."

Even if he helped her she felt like she didn't deserve it. She threw her notebook away in which she scribbled in last night adjusting the performances in it to his advice. She achieved a bit of her goal but at what cost of arguably chasing her close and only friend away. She heard her automatic door slide open and she turned to see who it was though she had a hunch as only one other person had access. Seeing him with Pikachu latched on the shoulder she turned around not wanting to face him.

"Forgot to block his access. Stupid." Another mistake on her part she messed up again in telling the crew she didn't want any visitors. Nothing went well for her it seems. Ash looked at her back not letting her earlier comments slide.

"What's the matter?"

"Just leave."

"Amelia." The way he said her name made it sound to her he had to know. Again genuine concern for her well being she didn't have the decency and courage to look at him she said it, her final memory of him wanting to be smiling at her and not the impending look of anger she's about to receive.

"I have been lying to you. I…I wasn't honest."

"What do you mean?" She felt her weight shift just a little. Ash went on to sit on her bed and with him being bit heavier than her she felt him sit down right behind her.

"When I saw you battle that Sandslash with Pikachu I then looked up your profile because you looked familiar. I read everything about your Kalos League placing and that you stopped Team Flare. I saw the picture of you and Serena which was taken afterwards at Professor Sycamore commemorating the events after it. I thought getting closer to you as you were Serena's companion, you might spill out some of her training methods so I can profit off them."

She herself thought she deserved this cruel irony. All this time in trying to make him spill Serena's secrets in the end it was her that failed keeping her own from spilling out.

Ash took a minute of silence thinking about her confession. He really thought he made a new friend but it was only to association to one of her rivals. Of course he was angry at being used but the Performer seemed to truly regret her actions. Hearing her sob he could feel the atmosphere in the air and that those tears weren't fake.

"Why did you want Serena's secrets?" He would give her the chance to explain herself. Depending on her answer he'd leave or not and forget about her as she sais he should do.

"Ever since I lost to her I've been on a downhill slope since. Sure I made it to a Master Class final once but I lost to Aria. I was undefeated until she best me in the Fluerhh Showcase. I couldn't admit losing to her in Palermo's attendance." Winning in her hometown should've been the trampoline that propelled her to success. Amelia kept pouring out herself to him still turned away not knowing if he was angry or started to form compassion.

"Who is Palermo again?"

"The best Performers of the last couple of years were all linked to Palermo. She's a producer who trained Aria and others and being taught by her opens many doors." The producer responsible for a decade of successful Performers not all of them became Kalos Queen but the best which was Aria.

Ash gently grabbed her by her shoulders and lifted her up. Amelia not resisting he brought her to her knees on the bed as she still looked down not to see him.

"Look at me." Amelia opened her eyes.

"Me telling you Serena's methods won't matter. I couldn't help you with it if I wanted. There is no right training method for anything. It helps to know but you are you. Not someone else." Even if she betrayed him he still held out a helping hand. Amelia cursed that he was just that nice but didn't interrupt him as she was more absorbing of his words than ever before.

"I once went through what you are having now. When I travelled through Sinnoh I met a guy who was pretty strong too." Referring to his Sinnoh rival Paul they got off to a violent start. The first day in a new region meeting a guy like that who talked down on the way how you treat your Pokémon is a recipe for disaster.

"He treated his Pokémon completely different from how I did. We did not agree on a lot of things. Most things actually. I battled a few times with him but it wasn't until our last battle I really defeated him. The one before that I even didn't stand a chance." His loss putting him down a bit he picked himself up afterwards thanks to the help of his friends and Pokémon.

"How did you defeat him? What changed? Did you do his training methods?"

"Nothing. I just did what I always did. I never could've done the things he did. That's not who I am. Not like you aren't Serena. Do you really enjoy performing as much as you say you do?"

"What an idiotic question!" She felt insulted as she grabbed and threw a pillow at his head. Any nice thing he said about her the previous days she should throw him off the ship as he suggested that. Ash having blocked the pillow he went in deeper to his reasoning.

"Travelling with Serena I've been to a lot of Showcases and saw a bunch of different Performers. You're good, you really are…" He said as he genuinely loved Amelia's acts apart from a big thing that was plastered on his old companions face.

"but there's something missing. I don't see a smile. All the Performers I've seen all carry huge smiles. The Pokémon too but Espeon and Dragonair both were serious in your demonstration. Didn't they enjoy it?" Having seen her train the glimpses he caught of Serena, Amelia didn't seem to have nowhere near as much joy in doing them.

"I haven't found much fun in them recently." She freely admitted even beginning to doubt herself if she was actually cut out for it.

"Why do you want to become a Performer if you don't enjoy it?"

"My family lives on respect. Ever since I was old enough to talk they want me to inherit the business I told you about. Like grooming a Furfrou they put me in lessons I did not wany but always thought it was just normal to be taught from a young age. I didn't know any better." Starting from young it was the most normal thing for her due to growing up in wealth and being educated at home.

"That changed when I saw a Showcase. I wanted to be a Performer. I told them about my wishes and they agreed. I got given every advantage compared to others that wanted it. They hired the best teachers, bought the best clothes from Valerie's store, I even have my own dance studio at home. The stress they put on me to succeed is suffocating. They expected me to win every time and maintain the Valeur name high success."

"So you want to be Kalos Queen to have recognition from your parents?" Ash hearing it Amelia did it for all the wrong reasons. Unlike Serena, Shauna, Miette, Nini and countless others he's seen the black haired girl wasn't there to entertain the crowd but enhance the Valeur name.

"Not at first. But then my father saw how popular they were and by association try to profit of them. I get the feeling I'm only doing it to get his approval and satisfy him now. Maybe I'm not a disappointment then. I'm a failure." All confidence gone her inner doubts were laid bare. Ash took hold of both her shoulders as he took it personal.

"You're wrong. You're not a failure." It was his attempt to make her feel better but failed so far.

"How can you say that? You're successful in what you do." A League Champion in his own right Ash at least had some accomplishments away from any family name. Compared to him the rich girl was just leeching of her family's reputation and only got as far as she did because of her surname.

"We all fail. It's how we get back up after it that matters. I failed to win my final badge and was as sad as you are right now. I got over it, won my badge and made it to the Kalos League. You just have to keep going even if it doesn't work out. If you give up, then it's over. Have you given up?"

Amelia just didn't get it. Everything he said made sense apart from why he stuck around and still gave advice. She used him yet he's still here.

"Your father has it wrong. Showcases and Pokevisions aren't something to make a profit off from. They're for you, your Pokémon and the people that like watching you as I do."

"You like watching me?"

"You're a great Performer. Don't let anyone else convince you otherwise. I'm looking forward to your act but not when you're like this. I want to see how good you are and have fun."

"Why are you helping me? I wanted to use you to beat your friend." He should be hurt at her deception. She really expected him to leave the moment she revealed the truth.

"You understand you were wrong. You are really sorry and you were feeling down and made mistakes. Everyone has that sooner or later like I told you. And everyone deserves to have a shot at their dream. Even my rivals do so I can't be angry at them. I just have to work harder than them to make sure my own happen."

"He's just too much." Going away from on the side of the bed she stared out the window thinking about everything he said. Deep in thought he had given her enough to think about. Her spirit roaring with new enthusiasm over being able to do what she loved she had to atone for her sins first.

"I'm sorry for lying to you. I want to make it up to you. Would you come to the ball with me after my Performance so I can show you who I really am?" Amelia was finished with the lying and hiding. Ash as one of the few people deserved to see who she really is and not a veil of an act she put on thanks to her father demanding respect from others.

"Sure thing. We can still be friends."

"Even after everything I did?"

"Sure. Friends can also fight. We can also make up." He smiled as she got distracted by something.

"Just friends?"

Dejected she secretly hoped for more. Maybe she expected too much from him always having gotten her way with most boys who grew up in her hometown always wishing to do everything for her. Her beauty usually enough to persuade them the raven haired boy next to her was immune to every trick or social norm she was taught.

"I'm happy we're friends too." She smiled. Ash seeing it was glad she's finally able too.

"Feel better?" Her face was still red but she nodded yes staring off into space.

Blushing at the thought in how he would look in a dashing suit while being on a dance floor together Amelia knew it and unable to deny it. She never believed in those fairy tales where a princess would fall in love with a prince in such a short time the stories took place at but her heart was screaming and beating that she happened to share a lot of things with those stories. The raven haired boy from Pallet Town with the golden Noctowl was her supposed prince.

He was handsome, brave, strong and above all kind. Not even once did he need a favor from her because she was wealthy or was after the power items that increased his Pokémon's potential. Never taking the short cut telling her that the Power Bands would be useful and if she could arrange a full set at a discount.

Amelia a bit sad contrasting to her mood a week ago. She couldn't wait for the cruise to be over at first and now she wished she never had to leave just to stay close to the boy with the Pikachu who smashed every expectation. She turned to him with a smile which he helped her find. Their time nearly over she wanted to see his facial features and etch them into her memories.

"Amelia?" Just like during breakfast she kept eyeing him. Shaking her thoughts about him she had a job to get ready for.

"Sorry." She apologized for her repetitive behavior.

"Can you leave me? I'll be fine now."

"You sure? I won't mind staying."

"I know you do. But I got a Performance and I like to prepare in private without distractions." It's just how she did things. And while Ash is a fun distraction she wanted to be her best for him. Him being there would only get her mind off the prize which is being the best act of the night. She still has some pride left after telling her doubts to him.

"Ok. You know where to find me if you need help."

"I'll call you if I need it." His number in her Rotom phone she can always call. Ash saw her confidence from when they met and he said goodbye as the door closed on him. Not seeing her anymore Ash's thoughts still went to Amelia.

"Nah, I'm just imagining things. I mean, it's not like she's Serena and going to kiss me before go we on shore."

Glad to have done his part in cheering her up he did take notice of the times she stared at him. The same dreamy look Professor Burnet gave just after she married Kukui was on the black haired Performers face. It's almost like Amelia had something as well like that to him.

Pikachu used his tail to slap Ash in the back of his head. Ash seemed to be in the starting phase of whenever Pikachu himself got hit by Snivy's Attract losing some sense of reality so the mouse hit him out of it. Ash back in the land of the sane was just a little mad about his buddy ruining his daydream.

"What? I told you she was pretty right?"

"Pika?"

"I'm not sure. Though. I mean, I'm looking forward to meet the real her you know."

He just had to ask Amelia about the looks she gave him after her Performance. Giving her the time she needs he headed to other parts of the ship to entertain himself without her. And he began to miss her when she wasn't close and hoped the real Amelia is even better than the old one.

Next chapter will be the last one and maybe a bit larger than normal. I'll try to get it out before the end of the year but no promises.

As always, the more reviews I get the more incentive there is to write.

Later.