To show a sense of initiative and goodwill, Monique showed them how to catch Pokemon in a swamp more easily without getting your clothes muddied. Serena got a Politoad, Victreebell and a Drapion while Ash got a Canivine, Wishcash, Escavalier and Accelgor. The greatest boon though was when Shauna got an adorable Goodra and Quagsire and Trevor a Gengar and Stunfisk, which they decided to keep on their team(Goodra and Gengar, not the Quagsire and Stunfisk) and train with their contingency TMs and vitamins. Once they reached the city, it was a sight to behold. The whole city looked really rural. The houses looked like abandoned shacks even though people clearly lived in them, the tree leaves were a beautiful orange as they rustled in the trees or floated across the ground, and a giant tree with a clock installed into it which showed it was 4 PM on the dot, though it oddly showed 13 hours instead of just twelve.
"Why does that clock have an extra hour?" Ash pointed out.
"That's the hour of the supernatural." Monique answered. "It's where the spirits are at their most strongest and may come from...another plaaaaace." She over-dramatized her voice to be all spooky. That made Trevor quiver.
"Please stop. I don't like spooky stories." Serena rolled her eyes at his paranoia.
"Come on, let's find some new clothes." Once they got there, it was easy for the guys. Trevor got an olive bag and outdoor hat, a purple striped shirt, brown boots and beige skinny jeans. Ash got a black outdoor hat, a black v-neck, red boots and red skinny jeans.
"Okay, now I know we're almost copying each other clothing for clothing." Ash chuckled. "The only differences are our shirts."
"A lot of their clothing has to do with trekking through swamps, that's for sure." The short redhead agreed.
"You're telling me. It was hard trying to find the right ensemble but we managed it." They turned to see Serena and Shauna in the city themed clothing. they each had a purple and green tassel bag respectively along with brown and purple caps. Serena wore a white scalloped tiered yellow skirt to go with a yellow ribbon smock shirt that had a white bow in the front and black laced boots. Shauna's was nearly the same except it was more pink and purple themed, except for her brown laced boots. However, Monique seemed hesitant as she poked her head around. Her blush was all over her face.
"Do I really have to come out like this?"
"Come on Monique. We can't have three girls looking the same. People would think we're lazy with fashion! Come on, show us!" Shauna encouraged her. Gulping, Monique stepped out and the others gasped. For the most part Monique did look cute in her dress. It was a coral pink coat dress that went down to her knees. She also wore the same brown laced boots and a black hat with a red feather in it. But something was totally throwing it off. Her chest was too big, as the button in the middle strained to keep it contained. Her nervous trembling was obvious.
"Do-do I look okay?" The button gave up and popped off, flying right into Trevor's face with enough force to knock him down, gasping from the impact as he fell onto his back.
"Trevor?!" Ash asked in worry as he tended to his friend.
"Alright, quick girl time!" Shauna declared as she and Serena took the apologetic hex maniac to the backroom before Serena popped her head out.
"You'd better forget this boys, or I'll beat the memory out of you." She threatened with a fist that had an angry vein before going back in. Ash sweated, not really sure if she would really do that.
Monique was on her knees as stared tearfully down at her chest which the dress now sported a hole in the middle showing cleavage and and some black bra. Monique couldn't hold it in anymore as she cried and covered her face.
"I'm sorry! That was an accident! I'm sorry for my previous life blessing me with freakishly big titties!"
"No no, Monique, it's fine." Shauna tried comforting the poor girl as she hugged the hex maniac. "I mean, to be honest I'm jealous." Monique looked up and gazed into Shauna's eyes, which had hints of discomfort but she tried to be a good friend, as new as it was between the two of them.
"Re-really?"
"Yeah. It's not that I've always been jealous of them in general since it's rare, but yours are quite supple. Girls don't like being reminded they're flat." Monique took that into consideration as she looked down and cupped her boobs.
"I-I never knew that. I've-I've always been alone since my parents died when I was young and I've gotten by from the charity of the people. But at the same time, people avoid me because they think I'm weird. Like Serena." The blond tomboy felt a pang of guilt, hearing that not only was Monique alone, she didn't even have any parents or any kind of family.
"I'm...I'm sorry Monique. In my defense you did come on really strong but you probably couldn't help with lacking social skills." Thinking about it, Serena sighed as she said, "Monique, while you already have the friendship of everyone else, I'm still not sure about you. But that doesn't mean I won't give you an official chance to prove yourself of not only staying with us, but being in our open relationship."
"Really?" The hex maniac asked before scurrying to the blonde. "Tell me please!"
"Rule number 1: Be yourself, but don't force yourself upon us. You don't have any solid idea of who we are. Once you actually get to know us, you will know how to act like yourself and be comfortable around us."
"Okay."
"Rule number 2: Know who you are. Before you can be yourself, you should know who you are. You may think you're just a loner freak, but I can see someone else down underneath. A person who I can genuinely see as a friend. You just have to find her."
"Oh. So, I just have to learn how to be the best self I can be."
"Yep, but there's one more rule."
"What's that?" Serena then frowned as she stooped down, grabbed the hole in the coat and forced it closed, making Monique to yelp.
"Rule number 1.5: Don't you dare use your feminine charms on my Ash. Along with Shauna, he's my man, and I won't let you and your boobs persuade him to like you because you're well endowed. Got it?"
"Yes, yes, I get it! Let me go please!" The hex maniac pleaded before Serena let go, allowing her to breath.
"Good. Now since it seems like you'll just pop out of everything in this store, you'll just have to make do with your own dress, okay?"
"Okay."
Trevor was just now coming back to consciousness with Ash watching him from a chair while reading 'Showcase Monthly'.
"Ugh, what happened?"
"Monique's button popped and you got popped on the forehead."
"Well that explains why the center of my forehead hurts." The girls soon came out, Monique back in her own clothes. Running to him, the hex maniac captured him in a hug while profusely apologizing.
"Oh Trevor I'm so sorry! It was an accident I swear! Please forgive me!"
"Monique, he can't so long as you're suffocating him like that!" Shauna pointed out. She stopped when she realized his face was in the middle of her bosom rather tightly, and could feel him squirming in there. She blushed even more.
"Ah, I'm sorry!" Pushing him away, Trevor was caught by Ash.
"Hey Trevor, are you okay?"
"Ash?" The timid boy asked, once he regained his senses.
"Yeah?"
"How are girls so soft?" The girls responded in their own way: Monique covered her face with her mane of hair, Shauna nervously giggled while and Serena wasn't sure whether to literally knock some sense into him or just yell that he should forget about it. Groaning, Serena said,
"Alright, enough about Mrs. Fanservice because all this is ticking me off. Let's just go find the gym leader and get this over with." Monique peeked out of her hair.
"Oh, you mean miss Valerie Proulx? Her gym is the giant tree with the clock."
"Perfect. Ash, since you have a Lucario to beat her the fastest, you can go first." Taking his hand, she dragged the confused teen, as he was trying to focus on the fast occurring events.
"Wait, she's another gym leader in a tree?" Unfortunately, it appeared that the gym was closed.
"I'm terribly sorry, but the gym is closed due to our fashion show today. There's nothing I can do." The attendant told the group.
"Well that's a shame." Trevor noted. However, two girls approached them, appearing to be models.
"Excuse us, can we talk with you for a second?" A female in the same skin tone as Shauna asked.
"There's a little something we'd like to talk to two of you about." Her more fair skinned bright blonde friend requested as well.
"We hope you don't mind."
"Us?" Serena asked. It didn't take long before the group was being led to the back of the gym/fashion store, where the models stooped down to their knees and spoke to someone.
"Miss Valerie, please excuse me, but may we enter?"
"Yes, please come in." The models entered along with the group, where they met THE Valerie Proulx! Her long black hair majestic looking, her pink dress beautiful and cute, and her eyes, as buggy as they look, still hold a charm none would deny as enchanting.
"It's her! Valerie!" Monique gasped. She dropped to her knees and prayed praises in whispers.
"Oh yes, I've heard of you. Monique Rayne." The gym leader said, her voice as soft and soothing as honey. The hex maniac gasped again as she looked up.
"You know my name?!"
"Yes. It is a gym leader's job to know their citizens. Well, except for Clemont since there's hundreds in his city. But back to you, you're the social outcast, aren't you?"
"Uhhh...unfortunately that is true." She looked down at her hands, sorrow growing in her. Valerie stepped forward and stooped to her level, taking the maniac's hands into hers.
"Even though I'm not involved, I'm sorry for what happened to your parents, and I apologize for not taking the time to help you. To see you." Monique's eyes filled with tears.
"You-you really mean that? You're not going to call me crazy or say I'm creepy?"
"Why would I do that? You are special. Hex maniacs may be known for seeming to be distant from reality and talk to ghosts, but that makes them no less worthy of human decency and care. I may not have shown it unfortunately, but I have loved that you devote your time to your true passion. Be whoever you want to be, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise." Monique began to cry as she hugged Valerie, unable to keep her emotions down since no one has told her such kindness. Even Serena's rules paled in comparison since they were conditions on what she should do to be accepted, not encouragement on how to be true to herself. Something that said tomboy felt guilty about when she got rough with her in the changing room. While Serena still felt she needed to say that Ash shouldn't be won over with her body, she now wished she handled the situation better.
"So, why did you have us brought here?" Shauna asked. They waited until Monique was done crying, though even that she was just quietly sobbing with Valerie continuing to hug her, she answered,
"Some of my models had to drop out at the last minute, and I was in despair. So I had some helpers look for substitutes. And it seems like you're perfect. That is, if you'd like to accept?"
"Be a model?" Shauna gasped with a huge smile and sparkles in her eyes. "I would love too!"
"It does sound like a lot of fun." Serena agreed with a nod and smile. Turning her gaze to Monique, she said,
"While I only needed to replacement, would you like to participate in my fashion contest?" This stumped the hex maniac as she stuttered,
"Re-really?! You want me to model?!"
"Yes. For too long you have had to suffer because you were seen as different from everyone, shortly after your parents died so long ago. I wish to help with that, even if it can never be fully undone." Monique stayed still for a few seconds before nodding shakily and responding,
"Okay."
Two hours later, at around sunset, there was a stage that a lot of females and some men were cheering, waiting for the show to start. Soon the lights did flicker, and two women walked onto the catwalk. A woman with long brown/orange hair and another with twin tail black hair, each in a blue and black dress respectively, greeted the fans.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the time has finally come!"
"We'll be presenting Valerie's newest collection!" The first woman walked with an Azumarill, wearing a dress and skirt that was predominately blue with some white additions to the bottom of the skirt and drooping sleeves, the middle held by a pink sash that had a zagzag tail and blue sphere at the end, emulating Azumarill's tail.
"This stuff sure is popular." Ash remarked.
"No kidding. All this for clothes?" Trevor wondered as he was clueless about the big deal. After a dress display of a female Meowstic, a Gothorita and a Chimeco, it was time for what the two boys were waiting for.
"Next up, designs of the beautiful patterns of Florges and Sylveon!" Serena and Shauna walked out, impressing everyone but especially captivating Ash. Serena was wearing dark green skinny jeans and a red designer top, the middle covered with a yellow dress that had a black and pink belt. She also had a yellow flower in her hair which was all the way down, just like at the beach. Though the look on her face showed that she might have stage fright, given she wasn't doing any waving and it was as straight tight as possible, attempting not to break face in the literal sense. But while she struggled with the attention, Shauna loved it as she waved and cheered to her admirers, wearing a mostly white sleeveless dress on top with a skirt that went white, blue and pink downward respectively as it reached her knees, wearing the cutest pink shoes to go with the snow white socks. Her dress was held up by two straps in which one was blue and the other pink, and her brown hair was adorned with the iconic ribbons that Sylveon have.
"Hey Ash! Hey Trevor! Aren't I so cute and adorable?!" She asked her two guy friends as she twirled.
"You two are certainly beautiful!" The impressed male trainer replied as he gave two thumbs up. Shauna giggled while Serena blushed some more. However, their attention has turned to the back where fog began to pour out, and the audience went wild. Valerie stepped out with her wing like sleeves covering the upper part of her body before spreading them out, with sparkles floating through the air as she did so.
"We love you Valerie!" A lot of the female audience screamed.
"You're so incredible and beautiful!"
"Everyone, thank you all so much for coming to my fashion show! Every one of my latest designs incorporate Pokemon motifs. That's because my philosophy has always been that only true beauty can be found in nature! Also, all of my creations are carefully designed to look their absolute best when worn in a Pokemon battle! But before we go on, there's one more dress you must absolutely seen! By far, this is my magnum opus of this year in my eyes. Please allow me to introduce today's best model!" Stepping aside, everyone was shocked to see that this last model...was none other than the social outcast herself, dressed up as a Mega Mawile. From how it looks, it was like she was dressed as a shrine maiden, with her purple pleated trousers which waved loosely around her legs, a pale yellow kosode kimono top held in the middle by red ribbon, and her large voluptuous hair put up in two ponytails meant to replicate the two jaws that the Mega Evolution has. She looked incredibly nervous as she took slow cautios steps, worried she'd be made fun of despite the outfit. "Everyone, you all know her as the resident Hex Maniac: Monique Rayne! However, shortly after her parents died and she took up the hobby of mediumship and seances, you all shunned her, never treating her as a person and only gave her food because you pitied her." The gym leader/fashionista turned to Monique. "However, I never once thought of her as what you say creepy or abnormal. She is special in which I am special, because while our means of being who we are are different, we have a connection in that we are passionate in what we do, and there is nothing wrong in being different. After all, I know some of you have hobbies or jobs that don't entirely reflect the city's taste. Chemical scientist, industrialist, pyrotechnic, things that fairies and such wouldn't like. But that doesn't mean that you're any weirder than anyone else. While I failed her because my responsibilities kept me from tending to everyone, I wanted to show you all as how I see her. Beautiful in her own way, even if they have an odd feature such as a Mawile." Valerie then took Monique's hands and said,
"Monique, on behalf of Laverre City, I apologize." After she bowed to the stunned girl, the fairy type specialist called out, "So, what do you all say?!" While everyone was silent, one by one people began to speak up.
"Perhaps we were too hard on her."
"We shouldn't have ignored her like we did."
"I may want to try and be her friend now." As the people began to see the error of their ways and either directly or indirectly apologized, Monique started to go teary eyed again wondering if her torment of the people were finally over.
"Hey." She turned to Serena, whom looked remorseful. "I'm sorry for handling with you roughly earlier today. I was just threatened as a girlfriend is all. But now I see that I was excessive in my defense. While I still think we should take things slow and get to know each other properly, I think we'll make great friends. Maybe even more."
"Yeah, same here!" Shauna agreed as she slung an arm over Serena's shoulders. Monique couldn't take it anymore as she lunged and hugged her new friends, sobbing uncontrollably as she tried to say, 'thank you'. Nodding, Valerie waved her arms open and shouted,
"Thank you all for attending and listening! Let's show our support for Monique!" Everyone there cheered, as they would treat the former outcast better from now on.
A/N: I must admit, I really outdid myself. Monique has only been an important character for two chapters and I already made her both incredibly sympathetic and lovable. I love happy endings. But this isn't an actual ending yet, since we still have the gym battle and pokeball factory next chapter. Tell me what you think. Review please. Thanks.