They reached Laverre a day later, and Ash went straight to the gym.
Which turned out to be closed.
"This seems to happen a lot," Pikachu said. "Do you think it's our luck, or a normal thing with gyms? Or possibly both?"
"It could be both," Ash agreed. "Let's see… busy doing a fashion show? I guess that would be important to people who like fashion… but if it's something the Gym Leader does all the time then that's not really great."
"Checking," Arc stated. "Gym Leader Valerie regularly runs fashion shows, but she is usually in the gym and is only out of the gym for the day before the fashion show and the day itself."
"That's not bad, then," Ash decided. "I don't know what Whitney would think, but I don't think it's much of a problem… maybe we should go and see what it's like? If we'll be waiting anyway."
"That sounds like a good idea," Serena agreed. "Maybe we can help out?"
"I know!" Clemont said. "I'll build a Dressmaking Gear! That way I can take part!"
"Is that your answer for everything?" Lokoko asked, amused.
"No, just most things," Clemont answered. "Hmm, I'll need to start with a set of safety cutters… since safety is paramount, I'll use a captive laser!"
"I-" Pikachu began. "...what's a captive laser?"
"It's like a normal laser, but the beam reflects between the emitter and a mirror," Clemont answered. "And the cutting element goes between the semi-silvered mirror of the emitter and the end mirror, so that it can't cut just anything!"
"Then I'm going to discard what I was originally going to say, and say something else," Pikachu decided. "It's really weird that we're in a situation where you can honestly say, 'I'll make this safer by adding lasers'."
"Ah, you must be Ash Ketchum!" Valerie said, considered for a moment, then turned to one of her assistants. "Please give me just five minutes? I think there's time."
"Of course," the assistant agreed.
"Well, then, Ash Ketchum," Valerie declared. "Did you know that I am, in fact, from Johto? We're almost neighbours!"
"I didn't, no," Ash admitted. "But, I'm here to challenge you to a gym battle, but you're busy today so instead we wanted to help out! If that's something that's allowed, anyway."
"Well, normally I would say no, but in fact you've been a bit of an inspiration to me," Valerie said. "On a purely artistic level, that is. And since two of the models have said that they simply will not be able to turn up… well, we could certainly sort something out. In fact it might be the answer to many of my problems!"
She nodded to Lokoko. "And I believe I know who this lady is!"
"Charmed," Lokoko told her, with a vulpine bow. "I was wondering if I could get your help on a matter of fashion, actually… well, more than one matter of fashion, it has to be said."
"Now I'm interested," Valerie decided. "I'll have to find some time to consult, especially for one such as yourself."
"I'm not really sure I know how I feel about this," Zacian sighed. "Fashion shows feel a little bit too much like they're emphasizing the frivolity of Fairy-types and making them into a Type that people don't take seriously."
"I'll do my best to change your mind," Valerie said. "In fact, one of the designs I made was with you in mind in particular! If it meets your standards, I'd be honoured to have you take part in the fashion show."
Fifteen minutes later, Zacian looked at herself in the mirror.
"Okay," she admitted. "You have my interest."
She turned side-on, revealing the detailing that traced patterns of white and gold along her flank… patterns enamelled into the steel of a quite functional and close-fitting set of full plate armour.
"You see, my philosophy of the Fairy type is about hidden fangs," Valerie emphasized. "A Pokémon which looks beautiful, and hides a blade – that is exactly how I would prefer all my Pokémon to be! And this is exactly like that, because it is so inlaid with enamel and detailing that it looks like the kind of armour that would be a waste of weight, more used for ceremonial purposes than in actual combat."
She raised her hands. "But, of course, it's as mobile as a real suit of armour, quite apart from how you can fly!"
"Indeed, it is," Zacian agreed. "And allow me to apologize, Gym Leader Valerie – I misjudged you, and I want to mention it."
She floated gently into the air. "I think I will take part in the show, after all…"
"What about this?" suggested Katherine, one of Valerie's assistants. "This is from one of last year's ranges, so there's a few going spare, but of course you'd want to update it and give it your own personal touch."
She held out the hat, which was wide-brimmed and tall with a slightly bendy point, and Braixen took it to put it on.
"How do I look?" the Fire-type asked.
"I think you look great!" Serena told her. "It's quite witchy, but it could be upgraded to very witchy if we added a few sparkles."
"And what about the other use?" Braixen added. "Don't forget that bit."
"Hmm," Serena said, considering it, then sent out Pancham. "You're about the right size, Pancham – do you mind testing it out?"
"Sure, fine," Pancham decided.
"He says it's fine," Braixen relayed, then put the hat down on top of Pancham for a moment before picking it up again. Pancham wasn't there any more, and Braixen lifted it up to look inside before nodding.
"It seems to be holding up okay so far," she said.
When she switched to holding it by the brim, though, it visibly bowed under Pancham's weight.
"Ah, a puzzle," Katherine decided. "I might need to think about that a bit."
"Let's see… and, here we go!" Clemont said. "Ready, Chespin?"
"Resigned," Chespin replied.
"Translating," the Translation Gear announced. "I quit."
"Really?" Clemont asked.
"Not quite," Chespin said, shaking her head.
"Translating," the Translation Gear reported. "Not quit."
Chespin shrugged, apparently deciding that was good enough, and Clemont hit the switch.
The Relatively Artificial Rapid Interactive Tailoring Yuppie booted up, unveiling an array of tools, and two robotic arms reached for bolts of fabric as a tape measure began taking Chespin's measurements and the captive laser cutter activated with a harsh buzzing noise.
"Remember, hold still," Clemont cautioned, as the autosewing machine activated and began stitching bolts of cloth together, adding satin and lace to a velvet undercurrent, and Chespin fidgeted but did her best not to actually run for it.
"Pièce par pièce, ton sur ton, l'arrière-train, épaule, hanche. Point par point, compressé, trait par trait, de la méthode. C'est tout ça l'art de la mode!"
"That's odd," Clemont said. "I don't think I built speakers into this one…"
Two minutes later, Chespin was wearing a dress which flared out in translucent green around her middle, giving her the appearance of a Quilladin, and which had little bows on all her quills that hadn't been concealed by the outfit itself.
"Well, that went better than I was expecting," Chespin conceded, then frowned as the Gear began measuring her again. "Wait, what's-"
"Oh, that's what I forgot!" Clemont realized. "Something to tell it to stop once it's already dressed someone!"
"I'm going to end up looking like a Dynamax Chesnaught if you don't stop this thing!" Chespin complained.
"You will be a very well dressed one, though, ma'am," Bunnelby pointed out helpfully.
"I think we have a few minutes, now," Valerie decided. "I'm going to have to be involved with the catwalk section, but it seems like a good time to ask your question and it can be in the back of my mind, yes?"
"That sounds like a good idea," Lokoko confirmed. "And, well. I've done my best to work it out myself, but it's such a difficult topic…"
She shook her head, and made an illusion of Absol appear next to her.
"This is my fiancée," she explained. "And, first, I haven't asked her yet about whether she'd like a dress or not, but I feel like I should check to make sure that it's possible to provide what I offer before asking a question like that. If she doesn't want one, that's fine, but I don't want to get her hopes up."
"Ah, well, I am sure that such a thing could be done," Valerie said. "I would say that a dress would be quite possible! Of course, the styling is a tricky thing, but that is quite different from being able or unable to do the mechanics at all."
She tapped her chin. "Yes, I think that I can promise to be able to make a dress for either of you – or both."
Lokoko sighed. "Thank you. I understand that it would cost, but… well. Despite being sure of myself in a lot of things, there are some aspects of all this that are so new to me that I'm almost afraid to ask the questions I have."
She then raised a forepaw. "And the other thing is… it's to do with rings. Or whatever would work best – again, I don't know. I was thinking about copying the design of a human ring, but whether that would work better or if it would work best as an anklet, a collar…"
Valerie nodded along. "Yes, I believe I understand your concern. That one will require me to give it a bit more thought, but – I do not think your trainer will be having his gym battle until tomorrow? Then I will see about doing some sketches overnight, if an idea strikes."
"I am very grateful," Lokoko said.
"When you work in the fashion business, you deal with a lot of nervous people for whom a wedding is in the future," Valerie told her. "Ah, I could tell stories were it not for all the confidentiality agreements…"
Lokoko chuckled, then craned her neck to check something about the models waiting to go down the catwalk.
"Is that dress design based on me?" she asked.
"What's this?" Valerie replied, confused. "No, I don't think that's one of mine… I don't recognize that model, either."
"Probably Zoroark, then," Lokoko decided. "It's the sort of thing he'd do."
And, as the fashion show went on, Shaymintwo huffed.
"Tch," he said. "Who has time for this stuff, anyway?"
"You are here, and not in Kanto," King Dragonite replied from the seat next to him.
Then a shiny Sandslash sat down on the other side of Shaymintwo.
"Isn't this romantic?" she asked.
Shaymintwo turned, and looked at her.
"You want the faker," he said. "He's in a big pyramid in Kanto."
"Oh!" the Sandslash gasped. "Sorry!"
With that, she scurried off.
AN:
Given that Sandslash's colours, she'd be a rosy amie to whichever Shamyin she was looking for.