Note: Continuity wise, Ash went from the Orange Islands directly to Kalos in this story.
- And this year's Kalos Queen is… Aria!
The pink-haired girl celebrated as she went to claim her tiara and trophy. Her rival, a girl named Serena, went out of the stage. She was devastated. All of this year's training, for nothing. Outside, her friends, Ash, Clemmont and his sister Bonnie, were already waiting for her.
- Hey, you did well! - told her Clemmont.
- Yes, Sere! Next year you'll destroy them! - added Bonnie.
Ash, her other friend, only looked at her. In spite of not saying anything, it was clear that he was as sad as her. Just a week ago, he had lost the Pokémon League. Once his friends started walking towards their hotel, Ash spoke to her.
- Serena, wait! - he told her - Do you want to talk in two hours, here in front of the water fountain?
- Pi! - added his Pikachu
- Oh... - she sobbed - Sure, Ash. I'll be here at seven. - Serena was a little bit happier on the inside. Not always your crush asks you to meet alone, after all.
At the designated hour, Ash waited at the park. He had left his Pikachu alongside Clemmont. He waited. And waited. And waited.
It was about eight, and he was ready to go, when he heard that he was being called.
- Ash! Wait for me Ash! - Serena yelled. He waited for her and they sat down at a bench. - I'm really sorry for being late. I just met with someone.
- Really? With whom?
- Aria's personal coach. She told me that I had potential and wanted to train me.
Ash was surprised and proud of his friend.
- That's so good, Sere! And what did you told her.
- I… I don't know. I want to train and win for my own means. I am thinking of going to Hoenn for Pokemon contests. Anyways, what do you want to talk about?
Ash stood quiet for a few seconds.
- Just… just that. What are you planning to do now?
- Oh, guess I already answered by accident - she let out a small laugh - And you, Ashy?
Serena immediately closed her mouth. She had never called his crush "Ashy" outside of her thoughts. But Ash continued as if it hadn't happened.
- Well, I was thinking about going back home to Kanto. But I'm not sure...
- And why? If that's what you want…
- Yes… but the thing is that I also want to be with you.
- What do you mean, Ash? - Serena blushed a little.
- Well, before we departed I wanted to say that I like you. Like, romantic style. I don't want to leave you, but I don't want to stop your dreams either - Ash spoke to her, more nervous for every word he said.
Serena was flabbergasted. The boy of his dreams actually liked her! She looked at him smiling, before going towards him and hugging Ash.
-Ash, I'm not leaving because of that. I just thought that a bit of time would have helped me. I also like you, Ashy. Like, romantic style.
- Then, what are we going to do?
- I guess we'll figure it out as time goes on. - said Serena and the two kissed for the first time.
Luckily for them - and for their many friends who were waiting for one of them to give the first step - they figured it out. Clemmont had to return to his gym leader position, and Bonnie was enrolled in school. Their old enemies, Jessie, James and Meowth, also stopped annoying them from one day to the next.
Leaving the new couple alone, Ash kept training across the Kalos region, participating in exhibition matches and local tournaments. His pokémon became more powerful, and he developed new strategies. Serena, for her part, kept working on her role as a Pokémon Performer, training alongside Ash. Her old rival, Aria, had retired and now her main rival was Amelia, a girl whose main partner was a shiny Dragonair. Serena also found out that she liked uploading videos of her shows and training sessions to the internet. As a second job, she also started a modeling career, in which she proved very popular. Both 20 year olds got brand deals, which allowed them to stop camping, instead renting a small apartment in Shalour City. It wasn't luxurious, but it was cozy and the two liked it. They also grew as a couple, becoming closer together. For them, life was almost perfect. About ten months after they started dating, Serena received a mysterious message.
-Look, mon amour, it says that they want me for a photoshoot called "The Carousel of Progress" at the abandoned power plant.
- The name sounds familiar… Do they pay well?
- They do, actually. Look! It says that you must go too.
- Me, modeling? Sure, why not! Let's pack our bags, my precious model - and he kissed Serena on the cheek. She blushed as she went for her bag.
The next day, the two were in front of the power plant. It was a giant grey abandoned building, with some parts of it falling apart. Ash knocked on the door and it opened. Inside, a pink haired woman awaited the two in a small reception room.
- Ash! Serena! So glad to see you here. Oh, and Pikachu is here too!
- Aria! What are you doing here? - Serena exclaimed.
- Oh, you know, a few stuff here and there. Anyway, come in please. She is waiting for you.
Serena did as intended and entered the room. It was very dark, with only six small lights over a chair and six mannequins, each one covered by a piece of cloth. Ash and Pikachu sat down on the chair and read a magazine. However, if Serena had waited a little bit more, she would have seen how a shiny Dragonair's tail grabbed the two and took them to a secret room.
- Uhh, Aria, what's going on here?
Aria didn't respond, instead she took out one of her pokeballs.
- Vivillon, psybeam and stun spore!
Her pokémon did as intended. Serena was pushed to the chair and paralyzed once she was there.
- Miss, she's ready.
A familiar figure appeared from behind the mannequins. She was a woman in her late 30s who wore red jeans, back heels, a black vest and red glasses.
- Hi Serena, remember me?
She couldn't answer due to the paralysis, but she knew her perfectly. It was Malva, Kalos elite 4, local newscaster, and ex-Team Flare member.
- Do you like the place? Quite scary, isn't it? - she continued talking - Well, before starting with the photoshoot, I want to explain to you the backstory behind it.
She unveiled the first mannequin, revealing baby clothes.
- About twenty years ago, a baby was lost in the forest. She could have starved, or been attacked by a wild pokemon. Luckily for that baby, a platoon of Team Flare grunts were around, and took her to the base. During the whole journey, the baby didn't cry, so they put a name related to it.
She then unveiled the second mannequin. It was a little girl's pink dress and a big white sombrero.
- The baby grew in the base, between the agents. She even had a few friends, a pink haired girl and a black haired girl. However, she needed a quality of life that Team Flare couldn't provide, so she was given to a woman in Vainville Town. Even with that, she managed to find her way back to the base time and time again. Due to that, she was assigned her first mission at the age of six: being enrolled in a summer camp in Kanto and taking Professor Oak's research on evolution, which she did perfectly.
Malva unveiled the third mannequin. It was a reddish orange dress which showed the top of the back, a silver belt with Team Flare's logo on it, silver gloves and red and silver boots. Additionally a reddish orange hat with white details, as well as a silver domino mask.
It was a custom hand-made Team Flare uniform.
Serena's custom hand-made Team Flare uniform.
Immediately, lots of memories came to her. Memories that she had tried to suppress for years. Her early training, working alongside grunts. Even when she got her first pokemon, a Pancham, from Malva herself. Tears went through her face.
- The baby was now a teenager. She was very popular around the base and wanted to do more missions on the field. After much deliberation, she was let to design her own uniform and special task. The mission was simple: she had to join other new trainers, offering to travel together in their Pokémon journey. And when she had gained their thrust, blam! Goodbye money, pokemons and, if they had particular talent, the trainer "agreed" to join too.
The clothes under the next mannequin were also very familiar to Serena: a black vest, red hat with a black stripe, red skirt, long black socks and sneakers. Her old clothes.
- She was successful in all her missions. But then came a fateful day. News arose that the recently appointed Orange Islands champion was going to journey into Kalos. Ah, I remember how the teen said to me "Yes, this is going to be my biggest mission". But then, oh no! Girl meets boy, boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. And the mission? Goodbye to that. There was even a gym leader traveling with you! You know that every pokeball that we give you has a tracker right? Yes, we knew that you released Pancham in secret, only to capture him again later on.
Aria unveiled the penultimate mannequin. It was a dress themed after the pokemon Florges, which Serena had worn in one Performance.
- Then we have news! Our girl wants to become a Pokémon Performer. Good for her! But, I wonder if she recognized her main rival from somewhere else.
Serena, starting to recover from her paralysis, turned to the left. Aria was there and smiled. Only then she realized that the Performer and her old friend in Team Flare were one and the same.
- Well, it seems that no. After all, that the Kalos Queen was also part of Team Flare all along would have been a great plan, right? Except that certain folks around here had to interfere with our plans. It was over for us. And then what? Well, requesting a minor sentence was an option. And that's what I did. Right now, I have to identify every remaining Team Flare grunt and agent in Kalos.
She finally unveiled the last mannequin. It was a black and white striped prison suit. In the middle, the name "Serena" was written.
- And well, you're next. - Malva concluded - Serena Fleurant, this is your Carousel of Progress.
Serena started crying. Her whole life had just broken itself apart in minutes. Nobody knew about her past. On occasions, she had thought about telling Ash, but she had never gotten around that point. And now, she'd be alone, behind bars, for a good time. While it's true that she had worked actively against their Zygarde scheme to take over the region, all those years stealing and kidnapping made her deserve a good time. "This is impossible. I'm over. How much will they give me? Thirty years? Thirty-five? And Ash? My pokemon? What will everyone think? Oh my poor Ash…" she was thinking.
- Hey, hey. Stop crying, Serena - Aria told her as she put her hand on her shoulder.
- Yes. You see, we aren't that excited about that going to prison idea, and I guess you aren't either. - Malva explained - That's why we have a proposition.
- Wh… what kind? - Serena asked.
- You see, we are planning to bring back Team Flare, but a better version. I guess you want to create a better world for you and your Ashy, don't you?
- Y… yes - Serena said.
- Then, will you join us?
Serena stood quiet. She didn't have any other options at this point.
- I… I will.
- Excuse me? - Aria said, evilly
- I will join Team Flare
- Hey hey! Here, at the back! We couldn't hear well either. - a female voice yelled from a dark corner.
- Oh yes. We have visitors.
After saying that, Malva pressed a button and the lights turned on. At the corner there was a window. And behind them, Amelia alongside her Dragonair holding Ash and Pikachu.
- Mr. Ketchum! I haven't seen you in a while! How are you? - Malva started again
Ash didn't answer. He just looked Serena in the eyes, sad.
- You see, Ketchum, your girl is pretty talented. But we know that she isn't the only powerful trainer in the room. And I also have a few friends in the judicial system, who would be pleased to hear and support my claims that you knew Serena's secret and never did anything about it. So, what do you say?
- I… I'll join too - ash shaid, struggling
- Fine
- Hey, boss, what if we leave the couple alone for a while?
- Great idea, Amelia. I guess that they have some things to discuss.
The three left the room, only releasing the couple after closing the door behind them. The two immediately ran towards each other's arms.
- I'm sorry Ash, I'm so sorry - she immediately told him.
- I understand. It must have been so difficult living with that - comforted her Ash - Hey buddy, stop it. - he told his Pikachu as he noticed it was charging electricity to attack Serena.
- But, now we're in this. And it's my fault - said Serena, still sobbing
- That's true. But I'm sure we'll figure it out as time goes on. - said her boyfriend trying to make her feel safe.
- Thank… thank you Ash - she said, and the two went to reunite with Malva.
At first, they were assigned basic missions. Pickpocketing, stealing, setting up an online scam based on crudely drawn pictures of Pansage… They completed their missions efficiently, not because they liked it, but due to fear of the repercussions. They had tried to escape once, only to discover that Amelia spied every one of their movements. Serena was also aware that Malva had used brainwashing before, and that she was doing it to gain more grunts. Ash learned this from his girlfriend from day one.
However, Malva had no intention of doing this to the two. "Brainwashed grunts are good for doing the dirty work, but they don't make good decisions for themselves. These two, however, have potential and talent. And I'm sure they'll discover it" explained her to Aria after she asked for the nth time why she just didn't brainwash them in the first place.
She was right, as over time the couple became more serious with their work, eventually even liking it. Pikachu had noticed this, but it resulted in Ash returning him to his pokeball. A mixture of Serena's past evil self resurfacing in her and Ash using more violent battle tactics made Malva notice this. Once, they requested a meeting with her.
- You wanted to see me - Malva inquired
- Yes, boss. - Ash said
- We have got an announcement to make - Serena added.
- Ohh, an announcement! Are you finally getting married?
- Er… not that kind - blushed Ash
- What he tried to say - interrupted Serena as she grabbed her pokeball - is that it's time for a management shift around here.
- Indeed. We're tired of doing all the petty theft after that recruitment. We deserve better - Ash added angrily
- Well, you should have thought better about asking me about that. Hound…
But before Malva could finish releasing her pokemon, Serena ordered her own Baixien, now Delphox, a simple command.
- Psychic.
Using her psychic power, the pokemon grabbed Malva and made her float across the room, before blasting her off.
- Miss, are you okay? I heard noises… - Aria ran into the room.
- Sorry - Ash corrected her
- But Team Flare is under new command - Serena added before kissing her boyfriend.
Aria, realizing that if they could against Malva she didn't stand a chance, left and announced the news around their base.
As the now Flare Queen and King, they expanded the team's scope, going back to the team's idea of creating a more beautiful world. Calling in some favors, they soon got enough money to expand their base from the abandoned factory to an underground network in Luminose City. Their public appearances became rarer, since they invested all of their time on Team Flare. Despite some initial objections from Ash, Serena and the girls reactivated the brainwashing program, luring some of their old acquaintances into it.
As for Pikachu, still inside his pokeball. But Ash almost didn't care about it. Serena and he had heard rumors about the appearance of particularly powerful Pokémon appearing in the Alola region, which people called the Ultra Beasts. They shifted interest to research about them, believing them to be a key part to transform the world the way they wanted. Their research had positive results. Miette, an old friend and rival of the two who had "agreed" to join, informed them that the President of the Æther foundation, an organization where the Ultra Beasts supposedly had been seen, was traveling to Kanto. Serena was pleased with the information.
- Ash, my love - she told him, enthusiastic
- Yes, my queen
- I think it's time to visit your home region...