Episode 571: Preparing For the Debut
After the battle with Noct, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Bonnie, Pikachu, Angel, Meowth, Dedenne, Blossom, Sparky, Thor, Eclair, the Digimon, SEES, and Team Natsu were heading to the Showcase venue. Calem follows the group inside.
"Break a leg, Serena," Kairi said.
"Thanks," Serena said.
Both girls shook hands and smiled at one another. Sora was happy to see the two girls get along with each other. Sora knew he was lucky to have them as friends. Sora turned to Calem.
"So, Calem. You plan on telling Serena?" Sora asked.
"About my feelings for her?" Calem asked.
"Of course," Sora said.
"I don't know," Calem said.
"Don't tell me you're going to get cold feet now," Sora said.
"If I got cold feet, then I got em," Calem said.
"You know, I thought the same thing once," Sora said. Calem looked at Sora.
"You?" Calem asked in surprise.
"Yeah. Kairi stopped me from doing so, and Kairi told me her feelings for me," Sora said.
"I remember you telling me that before," Calem said.
(Flashback)
We have a look a short time ago, looking into the talk between Sora and Calem.
"Serena has a thing for you? Why are you telling me this?" Calem asked.
"Sorry for bringing it on you, but I want you to know I wouldn't take her from you," Sora said. "The reason I'm telling you is because I'm your friend. Wouldn't you tell me if Kairi had a thing for you?"
"I guess you have a point. All the same, I'm glad you told me, Sora. I had no idea until now Serena had a crush on you," Calem said.
"Well, it helps if you can read people's auras like I can. I didn't tell her that I don't have any special feelings for her because I didn't want to hurt her feelings," Sora said.
"You think Kairi knows?" Calem asked.
"I think she does. And she knows she deserves someone like you, just like I do," Sora said. Calem smiled.
"Two great minds thinking alike. You would be right, she dies deserve someone like me. You think we can be like the two of you?" Calem asked.
"I know you can be. Brenden and May are like us in a relationship, as well as Lucas and Dawn. Also, Hilbert and Hilbert, and Nate and Rosa," Sora said. "I don't need any special powers to see you and her would go so well together."
"Was it easy for you?" Calem asked.
"To be honest, no. It wasn't," Sora answered. "I was afraid she didn't have any feelings for me whatsoever, and she thought the same thing for me, but we were both wrong about that. We had some coaching from our old traveling companions, so in a way, they made it possible between me and her." Calem realized it was much harder than he thought.
"I see what you mean, Sora," Calem said.
"Serena might have a crush on me, but she's clearly in love with you, but it's best you hear it directly from her for yourself," Sora said.
"You sure, Sora?" Calem asked.
"Trust me, Calem. Either she says it first or you do, let your feelings for Serena blossom," Sora said. Calem just didn't know.
(Flashback ends)
"I thought about that talk ever since then, and I still don't know," Calem said.
"You going to have Serena's back regardless if she wins or loses?" Sora asked.
"Yes," Calem said. "You can bet your money on that, Sora."
"That's what I wanna hear," Sora said.
Listening on them is Minato. He was listening on their conversation from start to finish. He wondered if he should just confess his love for Aigis like Sora and Kairi did.
"How am I going to do it?" Minato asked himself.
Over to Serena, she enters inside and spots Shauna.
"Shauna, hey," Serena greeted.
"Hi, Serena!" Shauna greeted back. "So how's the fight for Sora's heart going? You going to make your move or what?"
"No, I'm not," Serena said. This surprised Shauna greatly.
"What? You're not going to fight for Sora's affections? Why?" Shauna asked.
"Because the fight for Sora's heart was over before it started," Serena admitted.
"I don't understand, Serena. What do you mean over before it started?" Shauna asked.
"Because Sora has already made his choice," Serena said. "Besides, there's someone else on my mind. And you know him."
"Really? Who? Is it Trevor?" Shauna asked.
"No, it's Calem," Serena said. Shauna gasped in shock.
"Calem?!" Shauna exclaimed in shock.
"Yeah. I didn't realize it until just recently. And I told Kairi," Serena said.
"Aw, I had my heart set on you and Sora being a couple. I wanted to make a music video about it," Shauna said.
"It's okay, Shauna. Really. What I want is Sora to be happy with whoever he picks to be with him. And I'm going to be happy for him," Serena said.
"I still think you're prettier than she is, but I'll support you for this," Shauna said.
"Thank you, Shauna," Serena said, smiling. They both hugged each other as best friends.
Meanwhile over to the SMASH Tower, the Cooper Gang, Silver, and Vexx are aboard as they go over what happened.
"I still can't believe we had them and then we lost them," Murray said.
"Don't beat yourself up, Murray. These sorts of things can happen," Silver said.
"Silver's right, Murray. We can't get 'em all," Sly said.
"That Ladybug didn't seem evil, but who was it that helped her?" Silver said.
"That might require some looking into," Bentley said.
Over to Team Shadow HQ, Mateus sat in his office and Xande enters inside.
"What do you have to report?" Mateus asked.
"Forgive me, your highness. The Crystals of Light and Darkness are nowhere to be found. I have tried to the best of my abilities," Xande said.
"I thought they have been moved. I will not give up that easily," Mateus said. Xande took his leave as a knock is heard. "Enter." The door opened.
"Sir, a new batch of recruits are awaiting you," the Team Shadow peon said.
"I'll be right there," Mateus said, standing up. Mateus arrived and stood before the batch of Team Shadow new recruits. "Welcome, friends. It pleases me to welcome you to the ranks of Team Shadow. Your dedication to darkness shall be greatly appreciated as it is appreciated by me. Our goal is to crush our enemies without hesitation and without mercy."
"Without hesitation and without mercy!" The new Team Shadow recruits all said.
"Repeat after me! I hereby swear my undying loyalty to Team Shadow and the darkness it represents," Mateus started.
"I hereby swear my undying loyalty to Team Shadow and the darkness it represents," the recruits repeated.
"I shall devote my life into our goal into plunging the world into eternal darkness, by any means necessary," Matues said.
"I shall devote my life into our goal into plunging the world into eternal darkness, by any means necessary," The recruits repeated.
"And eliminate anyone who would dare interfere with our goal!" Mateus said.
"And eliminate anyone who would dare interfere with our goal!" The recruits repeated.
"Surrender is not an option!" Matues said.
"Surrender is not an option!" The recruits repeated.
"Welcome to your destiny!" Mateus said as the recruits cheered hard. Mateus smiled as his army continues to grow.
Back in Courmarine City just outside the venue, a young woman is walking up to the station. She has long black hair and a green eyes. She has a beauty mark on her left cheek. She wore a large purple dress and a gold tiara with purple jewels. She has a purple fan and wore purple shoes.
"Oh-ho-ho-ho! Future Kalos Queen coming through. Kalos Queen Mandy is going to make her debut!" Mandy boasted. Two young men are catering to her whims.
"Kalos Queen Mandy!" One of the young men said.
"Long live the future Kalos Queen!" The second young man said.
"That's what I like to hear. Come, loyal subjects!" Mandy said.
"Coming!" The young men both said, following her.
Over to Sora, he was spiking his hair and whistled a tune. Just then, a dimensional rift opened and a green creature came out of it. It has orange eyes and yellowish teeth. Sora sees the creature flying. Sora screamed.
Kairi heard the sound of the scream and rushed inside.
"Sora!" Kairi exclaimed with worry. She opened the door and she saw Sora laying on the ground, covered in green slime. "Sora, what happened? You okay?"
"I got slimed," Sora said, wiping off the slime. "Yuck."
"What did this to you?" Kairi asked.
"I don't know, it happened so fast. And then it went through there!" Sora said, pointing to the wall. She saw the green slime left behind.
Over to the green creature, it flies around and sniffed around. The little creature babbles and came to a restaurant. Everyone all ran out, screaming.
"What the heck was that?" One man yelled.
"Get me out of here!" A woman also shouted.
The green creature started to eat all the food it could see.
Over to Kairi, she waits for Sora to come out of the shower, so Lucy came in.
"Hey, Kairi. Where's Sora?" Lucy asked.
"In there," Kairi said, pointing inside the bathroom. "Taking a shower. Lucy looked at the slimy clothes in the basket.
"What happened?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know. Sora said something slimed him," Kairi said.
"Something slimed him?" Lucy asked.
"Well, it left that behind," Kairi said, pointing to the wall. Lucy turned and saw the slimy mess. She thought it was gross. A few minutes later, Sora came out with fresh clothes on.
"All done," Sora said.
Over to Riku, Naminé, Eevee, and Azurill up in a mountain trail, they came across a male Gabite. He attacked Eevee with a Dual Chop.
"Dodge and use Shadow Ball!" Riku ordered. Eevee dodged and fired Shadow Ball right at the cave Pokémon. "Use Quick Attack!" Eevee dashed right at Gabite, landing a hit. Gabite then came at Eevee with Slash. "Use Swift!" Eevee fired Swift, landing a hit onto Gabite, making him fall. Gabite started to dig. "Gabite's using Dig, so we'll use Dig, too! Eevee! Dig!" Eevee dug into the earth. Stars erupts from the earth. Gabite is forced out and Riku took a Pokéball and threw it. It struck Gabite, making him flow inside. The Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Riku's Pokémon Box goes off asking him if he wants to keep Gabite with him. He sent Gabite back home.
"Nice catch, Riku," Naminé praised.
"Thanks, Naminé," Riku said. "Now to head for Lumiose City."
"Eevee," Eevee said.
"Azurill," Azurill chirped.
"Right. Sora and the others said they'll meet us there," Naminé said.
With that said, the couple and the Pokémon started to head towards Lumiose City.
Elsewhere in Kalos, Valiant is up against a tree and he is filled with rage.
"Pathetic," a dark voice spoke. Valiant looked up. "Defeated by one who has Zest's blood in his veins." It was the spirit of Garland standing before him. "You call yourself my descendant? You're more pathetic than I thought!"
"I tried to destroy him, but his friends kept getting in the way," Valiant said.
"Excuses. You lost to him because you are weak," Garland said.
"I'm strong, and I will prove it! I will not let your efforts go to waste! Once the Ketchum bloodline has been erased, then your soul shall at last be at rest, and our family's lost honor will be restored."
"Do not fail again," Garland said before vanishing.
Back in Courmarine City, a white limo drives up to the stadium with a press crew standing with cameras and notepads.
Sitting on the opposite side of another woman is an elderly woman with gray hair and blue eyes. She has gold earrings and wore a black suit with a black skirt. She wore black heels. She wore a red scarf.
"We've arrived at the venue, Palermo," the younger woman said.
"Do I really have to go through this?" Palermo asked in an irritated tone.
"Yes, please. I'll have the limo picking you up in the morning," the young woman said. She sighed. The limo door opened as Palermo stepped out.
"We've been expecting you. This way, please," the man said.
The press started to bombard her with loads of questions. Palermo said nothing and kept walking inside.