AUTHOR'S NOTE

Just to give you all some information, I mention money in this chapter. 100 Pokedollars (referred to here as just "dollars" - don't get confused if dollars are how you typically refer to your currency) is about $6.50 USD, and 5.80 French euros, for reference. I was originally going to give Kalos French currency, but then I realized that Pokedollars are used in all the regions, so I just stuck with that. I got the conversion from an article online and shifted the numbers slightly to make the math a little easier.

CHAPTER 7
A Friend In Need!

There was something strange going on, Bonnie decided as she sprawled out on the floor, watching Dedenne turn in circles until dizzy. It was not unusual for Serena to be baking during the middle of the day, the sound of spoons scraping the inside of bowls and the smell of fresh macarons taking over their living space. Nor was it unusual for Clemont to sequester himself for long hours in his room or workshop, ignoring everything and everyone as he turned nuts and bolts into working parts. It was unusual, however, for Serena to be this angry, and Clemont to be this quiet.

She had already decided that as the youngest, and yet somehow the most grown up out of the group, she would of course need to find out what was going on. The decision had everything to do with her being concerned about her friend and brother, not with being nosy - or at least, that was what she told herself. The only thing left was to figure out which of the two she would speak with first. Serena was her best friend, and therefore she had an obligation to be there for her, no matter what. But Clemont was family, and if something had happened between the two of them, she knew she would need to take his side.

It was not long before the ding of the oven and the delicious scent of sugary goods drew her to the kitchen. Serena was bent over the oven, wearing a pink apron and a determined expression. "Mmm, it smells yummy in here!" Bonnie sang as she entered the room. There was a certain advantage to being viewed as a little girl, and it was that she could melt anyone's heart with a charm that only she knew was anything but innocent. "Who are you making the macarons for, Serena?"

There was a pause before she replied, and she took a deep breath, arranging her face into a soft smile as she did so. "Oh, no one, really. It just seemed like a good day for baking."

Any day Bonnie could eat macarons made by Serena was definitely a good day for baking, but all she did was smile and ask, "Are any ready yet?"

"Sorry, Bonnie!" Serena put her arms behind her back, looking down guiltily at the mess she had left on the counter. "You see, this is a new recipe. I had to throw out my first batch. I'm on my second one, and they're not quite done yet."

"Aw, no fair." Bonnie pouted, not bothering to hide her disappointment. "Hey, I know! Maybe I could help you bake!" Her main motive, of course, was to figure out what was so obviously bothering her friend. But she did genuinely enjoy baking, at least when she wasn't the one responsible for putting anything in or taking anything out of the oven.

"That sounds like a great idea, Bonnie! Here, let me find you an apron." Smiling, Bonnie went to clear a small working space on the kitchen island. At some point while accompanying Ash on his Pokemon journey she had grown tall enough to see over it. It did not feel like that long ago when she had been forced to jump to see everything on top of the counter properly, and she enjoyed her newfound height more than she would let onto anyone. As she was running her hand over the parts of it not covered with bowls and pans with interest, Serena came back in the room, her spare apron draped over her arm.

"Are you okay with this one?" Serena held up the yellow apron she had found; a perfect match for her pink one in size, shape, and number of pockets.

"I love it!" Bonnie squealed, jumping up and taking the apron from her. Yellow was one of her favorite colors; it reminded her of sunshine and the electricity all those in her family were so enamoured with. "It even has a pocket for Dedenne!" Hearing his name, Dedenne bounded over from the counter, running up Bonnie's leg and depositing himself in the apron that Serena was tying around her neck.

"All set!" she said, with a giggle. "You and Dedenne make such a great team, Bonnie!"

"Thanks!" Bonnie replied brightly, watching Serena pick up a bowl and begin to mix a fresh batch of batter. There was no sense in beating around the bush when it came to her. The longer she waited to ask, the more likely it would be that Serena would calm down, and brush off whatever had happened as nothing. There was no sense, with Serena, in beating around the bush. The longer Bonnie waited to ask, the more likely it would be that Serena would calm down, and brush off whatever had happened as nothing. Being upfront, and asking sooner rather than later, was the way to go. "Did something happen between you and Clemont?"

Serena's reaction was immediate. She gasped, and nearly dropped the plastic bowl she was holding back on the counter. With the quick reflexes she had gained as a dancer and performer, she caught it, holding it to her to hide the sudden shaking that had overcome her. "Of course not! Why would you even ask that, Bonnie?" Her tone was conversational, but Bonnie knew she had struck a nerve.

"You were talking to him earlier, weren't you? And you seem upset now."

Serena begin stirring again, frowning at the consistency of the batter. "Well, if you must know, yes I was. But if you want to know anything else, then you'll have to talk to him."

Bonnie stared at her curiously. Rather than being pleased Serena had acknowledged something was going on, she was only more suspicious now. After a pause, she asked: "Does it have anything to do with those tickets you were talking about earlier?"

As Serena's best friend, and her confidant for most secrets, of course Bonnie knew about the dance in Laverre City, and how she had wanted to invite Ash but was too shy to do so outright. She had offered to do it for her, of course - she always felt she had a gift for matchmaking, even if it was more out of persistence than any real talent. But Serena had refused her every time, saying that whether the response be acceptance or rejection from Ash, she wanted to see it firsthand.

"The tickets...the tickets didn't really work out," Serena confessed. She had brought them back to her room, where they waited on her nightstand. At this point, she honestly wasn't sure whether she should give them to Ash or not. If she did, Ash would surely tell Clemont about it - and Clemont, being the wonderfully patient and self-sacrificing person he was, would tell Ash to do whatever made him happiest, even at the risk of his own happiness. As upset as she was at what she had learned, and as mad as she still was at Clemont for having those feelings in the first place, she did not want to be responsible for heartbreak.

Bonnie nodded, unable to help the triumphant smile that came over her. It wasn't that she hadn't been a fan of Serena's plan - she just thought Ash would be too oblivious to understand the meaning. Better that she hand him the tickets in person so she could directly explain the dance was meant to be a date. Clemont, on the other hand…

"Ohmigosh," she said all as one word. "Did my big brother catch you with the tickets? Did he think they might have been for him?" She couldn't stop her heart from soaring with glee. She knew that Serena had a crush on Ash, but the thought of her best friend falling in love with and marrying her brother was just too good to let go. "Think about it Serena, we could be sisters for real!"

"Hold on, Bonnie, stop!" Serena shook her head, unable to keep from giggling at Bonnie's excitement. "I think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself! He doesn't know anything about the tickets or the dance, and even if he did, he wouldn't…" she trailed off, eyes growing wide as she realized she couldn't say anything. Even though she was keeping her own secret, she did not usually handle withholding information from others well. But this was Clemont she was talking about - was there a possibility that Bonnie already knew what he was hiding?

"He wouldn't what?" Bonnie pouted. "I want to know!"

No, she decided, Bonnie didn't know about this. At least not yet. If she had been aware of her brother's feelings, there would have been a lot less impromptu proposals on their journey through Kalos, and probably a lot more teasing between the siblings going on. She didn't think that Bonnie would ever reveal a secret of Clemont's, but she was just as sure that she wouldn't let him live anything like that down until he decided to say something about it himself.

"Nothing," she said absentmindedly. "Now come on, help me get this all into the piping bag."

Bonnie trudged up the stairs towards her room, exhausted, but pleased. With her stomach as full of macarons as her clothing was of flour, it was time for either nap or change of clothes - or both. In fact, she was so tired from her baking escapade that she had almost forgotten that she had wanted to speak with Clemont that day - until she passed his door, open only a crack.

"Now?" he was saying in a quiet voice. Bonnie knew he must be on the phone. She privately felt that it was unfair for Clemont to get a phone in his room, when he wouldn't even let her have a radio in hers, but it was an argument she had lost some time ago. "But I'm not...well, alright...I would still prefer...I guess if you're sure...okay, I'll be right there." There was a sudden commotion from the room, metallic-sounding noises emanating from it as is if all his inventions were being moved around.

"Clemont?" Bonnie whined, leaning against the door, pleased when it only fluttered slightly against her weight. "Are you in here?" She already knew full well that he was, but she wanted to know what was going on - both from earlier today, and what was happening now.

"Yes," the response floated through the open door. "Is everything okay?" When Bonnie didn't answer, he sighed, untangling himself from the range of electronics surrounding him. "Bonnie?" He walked over to the door, yanking it open the rest of the way, staring at the sight in front of him. "What in the world happened?"

"Just a little accident." She smiled up at him, laughing at the worried expression he bore. She had almost forgotten about the flour covering her clothing, though most of it was on the apron she still wore. "Big brother, what's going on?" she asked in her most innocent tone, blinking up at him.

"Ah, uh, I don't really have time for this right now..." Clemont said, deciding to leave the door open and walk back into his room. Now that she had a full view, Bonnie saw he was surrounded by a myriad of his inventions, some complete, others broken, and some not even fully built yet. "I, uh, I guess I have an interview with Todd now."

"Now?" Bonnie asked, surprised. "Like, right now?"

Clemont nodded, seemingly in deep concentration as he looked at two of his inventions, eventually placing one behind him and setting the other off to the side.

"I didn't realize you had agreed to do one," Bonnie said a bit stiffly. Surely, he would have remembered to let her know if he had decided to go through with it, so she would be able to coach him on appropriate responses and how best to advertise his attributes to potential 'friends'.

"I didn't!" Clemont wailed in panic. "He just showed up! Called me to let me know he was waiting in the lobby!"

For safety reasons, people were unable to just take the elevator up to their apartment in Prism Tower - unless they had the code, that is, and that was only in possession of those who lived there, along with Meyer. Everyone who visited had to wait in the lobby until someone was able to come down and retrieve them, assuming they hadn't already arrived with one of the four residents.

"Ooh!" Bonnie said, suddenly understanding. Her irritation faded, and a plan formed in her mind. "Can I go down and get him?" she asked Clemont. When he failed to respond, she walked closer and bent her head down. "Can I can I can I can I can I -"

"Alright!" Clemont burst out, unable to take any more repetition. "You may," he said gently, ignoring the impulse to correct his sister's grammar further. "That would actually be quiteful. Try to delay him a bit!" he called after Bonnie's retreating figure, shaking his head. She always got excited at the strangest things.

Running back down the stairs, Bonnie only paused to throw her apron back in the kitchen, wincing as it landed on the floor, leaving a cloud of flour in its wake. Looking down at the spatter of flour covering her upper arms and body, she wiped it off as best she could, heading for the elevator. She wanted to look good if company was here, of course - but she also needed to look her best if she was going to charm Todd into helping her out.

It was a long ride down to the lobby of Prism Tower, and Bonnie found herself impatiently walking around the space as she watched the floor count get lower and lower. Unlike her brother, she did not get motion sickness when inside the elevator, so the constant pacing did not bother her, even when the elevator finally came to a halt, and the doors opened.

"Todd!" She ran over to the young photographer-turned-reporter, who was sitting in one of the rather uncomfortable chairs provided for visitors in the lobby, leaning over him with her hands placed behind her back. "It's good to see you again!"

With a start, he looked up, smiling as he saw her. "Bonnie! What a pleasant surprise. Is Clemont with you?" He glanced around, like she might have left Clemont on the elevator or be hiding him behind her.

"Oh, no," Bonnie said with a laugh, and Todd looked at her suspiciously. "You caught him off-guard. I don't think he can decide what inventions to show off!"

"Oh," Todd said, instantly relaxing. "Yeah, I know this is short notice. People give better interviews when they're not expecting them - just like Pokemon take better photographs when they don't know the camera is pointed at them."

"That's so cool!" Bonnie exclaimed, and Todd smiled. "But since you're here, and I'm here, and Clemont isn't, I was hoping you could ask him something for me?"

Todd's eyes narrowed. He knew there was a reason for Bonnie coming to get him by himself, and it was very rare for him to be wrong about those sorts of things. "That depends on what it is."

"Well, first, he seems upset today. I think something happened between him and Serena, but she won't tell me anything! And I just didn't have a chance to ask Clemont yet, but I bet he won't tell me anything either." She pouted, and Todd looked up at her thoughtfully, standing up and walking over to the elevator with Bonnie trailing behind.

"I don't think I would have any more success than you," he confessed. "But I suppose I can analyze whatever response I get from him for you." He had come to pride himself on his analytical skills, and was sure he could at least find out how upset Clemont was and come up with a guess based on that. "I take it there's something else, too?" He had not missed how Bonnie had labeled her request as first.

"There is. We can't pass up this opportunity to find Clemont a keeper! There will be so many people reading this magazine, we just have to make him look his best! Can you ask him questions about what he's looking for in a keeper? Or at least write about him in a way that will help him find one?"

"A...keeper?" Todd asked, confused. "Do you mean -"

"A wife!" Bonnie explained. "He always says he can find his own girlfriend, but I don't believe him. I've done everything I can to help him, but he turns down the girls every time!"

Todd blinked in surprise, frowning. He hadn't realized Bonnie would be so blind to her brother's feelings - though, he admitted there was a chance he could be wrong. After all, he didn't know Clemont very well. Certainly, Bonnie would know him better?" But his instincts had very rarely failed him, and he had to follow them now.

"Sorry," he said, grinning. "You're on your own there. I won't help you set Clemont up with a stranger. Have you ever tried asking him what he wants?"

"I'm his sister," she said stubbornly. "I know what's best for him. There are 100 dollars in it for you if you agree to help..." She pulled out a crisp bill from a hidden pocket on her skirt's waistband, and waved it in front of him.

"Bonnie!" he said, feigning shock. "You can't bribe reporters! And even if you could, how cheap do you think I am? It would take at least 1200 dollars before I would even consider it." Bonnie dug back into her pocket, presumably to pull out more money, and he rushed to add: "Besides, I already said no. I have my own agenda to ask him about."

"Realllyyy…" Bonnie said, intrigued. "Do you know something I don't?"

"Maybe," Todd said, smirking. "Aren't you curious to find out?"

"Yes!" Bonnie jumped up and down in frustration. "That's why I need your help!"

"No," Todd corrected. "That's why you need to be patient, and listen. I'll let you sit in on the interview, as long as you promise to be quiet. Who knows," he said with a wink. "You might even learn something."

SNAPSHOTS
Pokemon the Series: XY
XY021: A Pokevision of Things to Come!

Serena readied a camera at the top of a small hill, smiling as Bonnie helped straighten her brother's clothing one last time before they started filming. She felt bad for Clemont - but not bad enough to help him get out of doing the video. "We're all ready to roll!" she announced, when she saw Bonnie hold out her borrowed clapperboard in front of the camera.

"Then let's go!" Bonnie said, a triumphant smile playing on her face as she looked at Clemont. This was going to be good.

Clemont gulped unhappily. This was the last thing he wanted to be doing. How in the world had he let himself get roped into this?

"Chespin pin!" his Pokemon announced cheerily beside him, excited for the chance to be on film. Chespin was everything that Clemont was not, including being extroverted and photogenic.

"Scene one, and action!" Bonnie shouted, looking pleased with herself. She snapped her clapperboard in Clemont's direction, and waited for him to say his lines.

Clemont's knees knocked together with nerves as he tried to forget that there was a camera pointed at him and that it was actually on. He made a couple nervous coughs as he tried to pull himself together. "Uh, hello there…" he said shakily. "I'm...Clemont...and this is..." he held his arm out to his left, trying to gesture at Chespin, but he had already run up excitedly to the camera.

"Chespin!" he said, his face very close to the lens.

"No, no, cut, cut!" Bonnie yelled, unhappy with how it was turning out. Chespin wasn't supposed to be the star of the show, and Clemont wasn't supposed to be this bad on camera! "Chespin, you're too far out front!"

"Chespin?" the Spiny Nut Pokemon said, looking shocked.

"And Clemont, you need more energy! Your voice is getting softer and softer!" Ah, there it was. The weight of all the pressure his sister was putting on him. He knew it had to be around here somewhere. He groaned in exasperation as it hit him.

"I told you, I'm not any good at this sort of thing, so why can't we make Serena's already?" Unlike him, Serena actually wanted to be on camera - and renting out the equipment had been her idea in the first place!

"Agh," Bonnie groaned unhappily.

"Hey, I've got an idea," Serena said helpfully. "Talk for him, Bonnie."

"You mean speak his lines?" Bonnie asked, turning towards her friend.

"Mmhm," Serena said. "You see, we'll be hearing your voice instead of Clemont's," she explained. "Then all Clemont has to do is match his lips to everything you say!"

"Ah, that might work!" Bonnie seemed thrilled with the idea. "Yeah, let's give it a try!" she said, turning back towards Clemont.

It was not a fun way to spend the day at all, Clemont decided, especially with the kinds of things he was expected to say. "Bonnie!" he cried out in exasperation at one point. "I am not going to even pretend to say those words!" But she had argued with him, and pushed back until he finally gave in. After all, she was still his little sister, and if it meant this much to her, he might as well play along. Hopefully, it would turn out badly enough that he wouldn't be expected to actually publish anything.

"Alright, take two! Action!" Serena sang, once Bonnie decided that they were ready to go. She clacked the clapperboard together again in excitement, and holding in laughter, Serena quickly walked away from the camera so that the sound would not be recorded should it escape from her.

Clemont could feel his cheeks starting to heat up as the film rolled, and his eyes seemed almost permanently fixed upward as he again tried to ignore the camera. This, in some ways, was even worse than him performing his own lines. But the faster he did what Bonnie wanted, the faster he could stop being subjected to this awful activity.

"Hello there, my name's Clemont," Bonnie said in her best impersonation of her brother. "I'd like you to meet my partners, Chespin -" Clemont held out his arm to the left, as Chespin greeted the potential audience - "and Bunnelby." Clemont held out his arm to the right, and Bunnelby raised his paw in greeting.

"I'm a handsome gym leader, from the Lumiose City Gym." Clemont turned around, showing both sides to the camera, and secretly wondered if Bonnie was just filming this in advance of when he got arrested for killing her. "I can be shy, but I'm very strong in my own gentle way. I love to invent things, and right now I'm looking for a nice girl who I can be a good friend to..."

"Chespin!" Chespen yelled, throwing himself at the camera with the biggest grin on his face. His excitement drowned out the rest of Bonnie's voice-over, and she dropped out of character to scold him.

"Hey! Out of the way!"

"Bunnelby!" Bunnelby got close to the camera too, trying to shove Chespin out of the way. Angry, they both leapt backwards, and begin to fight.

"Hey, there's no reason for you two to have a fight," Clemont said, forgetting for a second that he was on film, while Bonnie yelled "Hey, stop it right now!"

But it was too late. Bunnelby hopped backwards in an amazing show of acrobatics, using Mud Shot on Chespin and causing both Clemont and Bonnie to brace themselves for the impact. The force of the attack knocked the camera over, which got a good view of Chespin using Pin Missle in defense before zooming in again on Clemont's now dirt-covered face.

"That's my big brother!" Bonnie said a bit sheepishly, gesturing towards him in all his now-ruined finery. Chespin and Bunnelby helped with the exaggerated motions, obviously feeling bad for the interruption, and all four of them watched and groaned as the camera finally gave up and fell on its side.

Yes, this day definitely couldn't be over soon enough.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Short, but sweet. And the Snapshot is just a reminder of how determined Bonnie can be when it comes to interfering in Clemont's love life! The next chapter should be a fairly long one - and after that, we'll finally see some action!

Stay tuned for Chapter 8, and thank you for reading / following / favoriting / reviewing!