"We're here! We're here!" Bonnie said. "It's so green!"
Serena pulled out her navigator. "The City of Evergreen," she read. Looking around, she thought that Viridian City was much too small to be a city. It was a lot tinier than Lumiose at least.
"Let's go to the Pokémon Center first," Clemont said. "We're running low on food."
After a quick search, they found the Pokémon Center. Serena stopped in her tracks when she entered the building.
"Does your name happen to be Nurse Joy by any chance?" Serena said, looking at the red-haired woman behind the counter.
"Why yes!" Nurse Joy said. "Welcome to our Pokémon Center. Why do you ask?"
"You have a lot of relatives, don't you?" Serena said.
"Why yes!" Nurse Joy said. She pulled out a framed photo under her desk. "Most of us work in Pokémon Centers, although some of us have other jobs."
"Wow, there's so many of you," said Bonnie, peering at the photo. There was about three lines of Nurse Joys for what Serena assumed to be for every Pokémon Center in Kanto.
"Ha ha, everybody says that," she said, giggling. "Now, would you like me to heal your Pokémon back to perfect health?"
"Yes please," Clemont said.
"Okay, I'll take your Pokémon for a few minutes," Nurse Joy said.
A pink blob Pokémon walked out pushing a metal cart, and Serena automatically pulled out her Pokédex.
"Chansey. The Egg Pokémon," it said. "A rare and elusive Pokémon that is said to bring happiness to those who manage to get it."
"That's so cool! Do all Kanto Pokémon Centers use Chansey instead of Wigglytuff?" Bonnie asked. Serena and Clemont put their Pokeballs on the art, Serena making sure Pikachu and Dedenne were comfortable.
"Yes," Nurse Joy said. "Chansey eggs are very healthy and nutritious to sick Pokémon."
"Bonnie, do you want to watch Aria's latest performance?" Serena asked, pointing at a computer.
"Hurray!" Bonnie said.
"I'll prepare lunch in the meantime," Clemont said, heading towards the kitchen. "Bonnie, make sure you listen to Serena."
"You don't have to worry so much big bro!" Bonnie said.
They turned on the computer. Serena noticed her first PokéVision, the one she made with Fennekin, was rising in the popularity charts again. Perhaps news had gotten out she retired being Kalos Queen?
Aria was brilliant, of course. Her Aromatisse and Delphox dazzled the audience, mixing fire and fairy attacks that blended, mixed, and showered the arena with sparkles. Serena could still remember the time when she challenged the reigning champion. Sweat glistened on her and her Pokémon as Pancham summoned beautiful Stone Edges, Braixen conjured sparking Fire Blasts, and Sylveon danced to the rhythm. It was the hardest and most rewarding thing Serena has done.
Naturally Aria won the most recent competition. Some of her opponents were close—Nini and Miette had gorgeous performances too but couldn't surpass the former Queen.
"Mademoiselle Aria," Monsieur Pierre, the host of Pokémon Showcases, said. He still had that blonde goatee and neon blue suit and hat. "Do you have any final words now that you've regained your title?"
"Only that it shouldn't be mine!" Aria said. Monsieur Pierre did a fake gasp. "I'm only safeguarding this title until my one true rival, Serena, returns. So just you wait, Serena!" Aria said, smiling and pointing at the camera. "Come back soon so we can clash again!"
"That's so nice!" Bonnie said. She put two of her fingers on the side of her face and tried stretching her mouth upwards. "I don't get it. How can Aria smile so much!?"
That put a smile on Serena's face. "She believes that smiling gives other people strength."
"And does it?" Bonnie asked.
"Only if no one forces you to do it," Serena replied. "Okay, Bonnie, are you ready for today?"
Bonnie tried her best to scrunch up her face into a super-serious expression. It almost made Serena laugh. "Yes I am!" Bonnie said. "Talk to the Gym Leader but don't let him know that we're finding Ash. And when you give the signal that you think he's Tuck, we run to the police!"
Serena nodded. She didn't tell Bonnie how she would know if the Gym Leader was Tuck Heed. No one else saw Mewtwo and no one else would believe that Serena could identify Tuck's voice any day. "Great, we're all set!" she said. "Now, my navigator says that Viridian City's Gym Leader is Giovanni! He's a Ground-type Gym Leader. And the head of Team Rocket."
"Team Rocket!?" Bonnie said. "Those bad people with the bad motto and who always try to steal Pikachu? Why is he a Gym Leader?"
"Giovanni?" said another nearby stranger. He had messy brown hair and was munching on an apple. "Why are you talking about Giovanni?"
"He's the Gym Leader here, isn't he?" Serena said.
The guy shrugged. "More or less. I think he retired being the leader of Team Rocket though. Why're you interested? Gonna battle him?"
"Ah, no no," Serena said. "We're just here for an interview."
"Yeah!" Bonnie said. "Hey mister, have you battled him? What's his strongest Pokémon?"
"It was the hardest battle of my life," the boy said. "And boy you won't believe me, but he has a Mewtwo."
Serena felt like a dagger stabbed through her heart. "A Mewtwo..?"
"Serena! Bonnie! Lunch is ready!" Clemont said.
As Serena and Bonnie rushed over, they heard the familiar Pokémon Center chime. They turned to see their Pokémon and Pokéballs being escorted out by the Chansey.
"Thank you for waiting," Nurse Joy said. "We've restored your Pokémon to full health. We hope to see you again!"
"Thank you!" Clemont said. "Serena?"
"O-oh, right, sorry" Serena said. "Thank you Nurse Joy!"
"Pika?" Pikachu asked.
"I think we're close, Pikachu," Serena said, rubbing Pikachu's head. "I have a feeling that it's really close."
The trio wolfed down their lunches with their Pokémon, all of them eager to head off to the gym.
Upon arriving, Serena noted that the building was quite—by far the newest building in Viridian City. There was a girl standing outside the door. She was in a pretty skimpy outfit.
"Hello!" the girl said. "Are you here to battle the Viridian City Gym Leader?"
"Nope!" Bonnie said. "We're here to give an interview!"
"Aw, you're an adorable little girl," the girl said. "But seriously—why are you here?"
"She's telling the truth," Serena said. "We're with the Lumiose Press. May we have an interview?" Serena was glad Alexa was their friend. It made things a lot easier.
"Well, the thing is, the Gym Leader doesn't really give interviews," the girl said.
"Oh? Why not?" said Clemont.
"I don't even know myself," the girl said, sighing. "A few years ago he always loved to talk about himself but recently he's mellowed out. I think the best way now to talk to him is to challenge him to a battle."
Serena felt Bonnie's and Clemont's gazes. She wished that Clemont would battle, but he couldn't as a gym leader. "Okay, I'll do it," she said. "For Ash."
"Great!" the skimpy girl said. "Come on in!"
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Clemont whispered to Serena.
"It's fine, it's fine," Serena said, trying to reassure him. "I don't need to win—I just need to battle him enough so I can talk to him."
"Is that okay?" Bonnie asked. "Your Pokémon believe in you. They want to win!"
"Pi, ka," Pikachu said, sounding somewhat down.
Serena pulled out Braixen's Pokéball. "No. It hurts," she said. "But it doesn't hurt as much as not knowing if you'll see your trainer ever again."
They arrived at the stadium. "We'll be cheering from the sides!" Bonnie said.
"Dedenne Dedenne!" the mouse in Bonnie's pouch said.
"And keeping an eye out for clues!" Clemont whispered. The two of them climbed up on the bleachers.
Serena stood at her side of the field. It was still dark—the lights weren't turned on. And then-
"Gary, Gary, he's our man. If he can't do it, no one can! Go...Gary!" came a chorus. Intense floodlights from above turned on, revealing cheerleaders, including the one by the doorway.
"Oh? Look who showed up!" said the guy with the messy brown hair.
"You're the boy from before! You…you don't look like Giovanni!" Serena said.
"Who said I was Giovanni?" he said. "My name's Gary. Gary Oak."
"You're related to Professor Oak?" Clemont said.
"You lied to me!" Serena said, cutting off Clemont. "You said Giovanni was the Gym Leader here!"
"Well, he was," Gary said, shrugging. "And man, you look so cute when you're mad. Wanna join my cheerleading squad? You get to ride in a sports car."
"No!" Serena shouted, hands at her sides. "Let's get this battle over with! Come on out, Sylveon!"
"Sylvie!" the Pokémon said as it leapt out of the Pokéball.
"Woah woah woah, wait," Gary said. "I'm new to this Gym Leader thing. I was studying to become a Pokémon Professor until I got a call from Agatha saying that she wanted me to head this gym. You don't have any badges, right? Dang. I don't have any low-level Pokémon. You mind if I just use one Pokémon against whatever you have?"
"Just do whatever you want!" Serena shouted.
"Alright, alright, sheesh, calm down," Gary said. "In that case I choose you, Golem!"
In her anger Serena almost forgot to pull out her Pokédex.
"Golem. The Megaton Pokémon," the Pokédex said. "Its boulder-like body is extremely hard. It can easily withstand dynamite blasts without taking damage."
"Hey, you're using the machine ol' Gramps made," Gary said. "Do you seriously not know what a Golem is? Sheesh, you remind of Ashey Boy. He was always such an idiot and scanned every single blasted Pokémon he met."
"You know Ash?" Serena's heart skipped a beat.
"Yeah, yeah, Ashey Boy, my old rival. Always used to beat him. Shame he went missing. Oh? Now that I think about it, it was you who ran down the stadium, right? You were the one that failed to save Ashey Boy?"
"Don't call him that!" Serena yelled. "Sylveon, Fairy Wind!"
That move seemed to shut Gary up. The Fairy Wind sparkled as it collided with the Golem, leaving pretty lights in its aftermath.
"Now use Swift!" said Serena.
"Magnitude," Gary said.
The ground underneath Serena shook and she was thrown to the floor. "Sylveon!"
"Unbelievable!" Clemont said. He had put an arm around Bonnie in case the tremors knocked any debris around. "How did Golem move faster than Sylveon!? It's a lot slower!"
"Sylveon, can get you up?" Serena asked.
"…Syl," it grimaced, but it was able to stand back onto its feet.
"Okay! Sylveon, pretend this is a dance!" Serena said. She started snapping her hands. "Let's dance, dance, and avoid all of Golem's attacks!"
"Sylvie!" it cried as it started moving to the beat. In between hops and skips, it launched Swifts at the Golem, the stars exploding into hundreds of tiny stars when they collided. The Golem tried swiping at the Sylveon but kept on missing with its stubby little arms.
"Go, Sylveon, go!" Bonnie said.
"Denne!" Dedenne also cheered.
"Rock Blast," said Gary.
Sylveon was struck right in the air by the first Rock Blast. As it started falling to the ground, it got hit by another. And another. And another. Soon it stopped crying out as it was hit by Rock Blasts.
"Sylveon!" Serena cried, running up to her Pokémon.
"Get out of the field and send your next Pokémon," Gary said. There was no joy or mirthfulness in his voice unlike the arrogance from before.
"You've done a beautiful job, Sylveon," Serena said, recalling her Pokémon. Walking back, she debated about her next Pokémon. As soon as she reached the edge of the stadium, she spun around.
"Go, Pancham! Use Arm Thrust!"
"Good choice," said Clemont. "Pancham is a fighting type. He has the type advantage against Golem's rock/ground typing!"
"Magnitude," said Gary.
"Dodge it, Pancham!" Serena said, and Pancham leapt high in the air.
"Now, show him our Stone Edge!" Serena said.
Pancham slammed the ground, sending blue crystal-like spikes in all directions around him. It had the effect of making Pancham look like he was in the middle of a flower.
"I never get bored of how beautiful her Pancham's Stone Edge is!" Bonnie said. "It took a lot of hard work for Pancham to do that."
"You call that a Stone Edge?" Gary said. "Pathetic. Golem, use Stone Edge."
An enormous stalagmite pierced from the ground and right into Pancham. The huge crystal dwarfed all of Pancham's fragile creations. Serena put both hands on her mouth as Pancham landed with a thud onto the floor.
"Gary, Gary, he's our man. If he can't do it, no one can! Go...Gary!"
Serena wanted to tell the cheerleaders to shut up, but her mouth was rigid as she recalled her Pokemon.
"Great job, Pancham," she said, forcing her mouth to move.
"Is that it?" Gary said. "Do you give up?"
Serena clenched her fists, trying to blink away tears. "No! Braixen, come on out!"
Bonnie was silent in the bleachers. "Brother…will Serena be okay?"
"I don't know," Clemont said. He pulled his sister closer to him. "I don't know."
"Braixen! Use Hidden Power!" Serena said, or she forced herself to say. White light shot from Braixen and darted towards the Golem. They struck their target, leaving behind some snowflake-like effects.
"Braix?" Braixen said, looking at Serena with concern.
"I-I'm fine, Braixen," Serena said. "Let's keep it up! Use Flamethrower!"
Drawing its wand and spinning it in a circle, it casted Flamethrower towards the rock Pokemon. The flame trail snaked across the air, giving off an interesting illusion.
The Golem winced, and sank to one knee.
"It's burned!" Clemont said. "Now its attack power is reduced! And it'll take constant damage!"
"Are you done yet?" Gary said.
"W-what?" said Serena.
"You call that a combo? Weak," said Gary. "Golem, Rock Blast."
"Get out of there Braixen!" said Serena. The fire fox, by darting and weaving through the broken terrain, somehow dodged the Rock Blasts. Eventually, Braixen dashed behind a large rock.
"Okay, Braixen," Serena said. "When you're ready, cast Fire Blast onto the Golem."
"Focus Punch."
The rock broke in slow motion to Serena. She gasped as the Golem punched through the rock, hitting Braixen right in the stomach. Her first Pokémon flung back due to the recoil, crashing through another rock.
"Rock Blast."
"Braixen, return!" Serena said before the Rock Blast could hit. She could feel that Braixen had already fainted as it returned to her Pokéball.
"What happened, brother?" Bonnie whispered to her brother. "I'm scared."
"If you don't interrupt Focus Punch, it can do a lot of damage," Clemont said simply.
Serena looked at the ground. She had lost. There was no way she could win against Gary—he was too strong and—
"Pika?"
"Pikachu? Are you crazy?" Serena said. "This is a ground-type gym! Your electric attacks can't do anything to Golem! Have you seen what Golem has done to my Pokémon?"
"Chuu," Pikachu said, clenching his fists. Sparks flew out of his cheeks.
"That's Ashey boy's Pikachu, is it?" Gary said. "Send it out. I said all of your Pokémon."
Serena bit her lip. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
"Magnitude."
"Pikachu, jump and use Iron Tail!"
"Pika!" he yelled as the floor shook again. The cheerleaders dove for cover as Serena covered her face with an arm.
"Rock Blast."
"Iron Tail those rocks away!" Serena yelled.
"Pika. Pika. Pikaa!" Pikachu said, somehow knocking of the rocks.
"Now hit him!" Serena said.
Pikachu swung his body again but met thin air.
"Rollout."
Pikachu just barely dodged the first attack as the Golem rolled past him. When the Pokémon turned around at the side of a stadium, it sped up.
"Pikachu, use uh, uh, Thunderbolt!" Serena said.
"Pi ka..chuu!" Pikachu said, sending out some lightning jolts.
"Serena!" Clemont said. "Electric attacks have no effect on ground types, remember?"
The second Rollout clipped one of Pikachu's legs. It collapsed onto the floor, struggling to get up.
"Pikachu! Get out of the way! It's coming!" Serena said.
"Pi-ka!" he cried out as it was hit by a direct attack.
"Pikachu!" Serena screamed as she ran towards the stadium.
"Stop," Gary said "I'm warning you. This battle is not over yet."
"But Pikachu—"
"It's still getting up."
Serena covered her mouth again as Pikachu was smashed by another Rollout. The mouse skidded to a halt in front of her, leaving a trail whose friction burned part of its hair.
"Pikachu, it's okay," Serena said. "Please. You don't need to try so hard. You don't—"
But it got back up. "Pi Pikachu!" he said, looking back at Serena.
"I can't give you orders!" Serena said, tugging her hair. "I don't know! I don't know! I don't know!"
Then Pikachu was struck by one last Rollout, sending it tumbling into another rock and finally knocking it out.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"We hope to see you again!" Nurse Joy said, a smile on her face as always.
"He's not Tuck," Serena said, still in the chair, not standing up to retrieve her Pokémon. She had been sitting-no, lying-in that chair ever since she ran out of the Gym, a pink blanket wrapped around her. "He doesn't have the same voice. And he doesn't have the Mewtwo."
"Serena, no one can blame you for that battle," Bonnie said, trying her best to hug her friend. "You're a Pokémon Performer."
Clemont dropped off Serena's Pokéballs. "I think even I would have a hard time beating him," Clemont said. "Don't take it too harshly. Come on. It's time for dinner."
Memories of Braixen's, Pancham's, Sylveon's, and Pikachu's knockouts flashed in Serena's head. She pulled the pink blanket tighter around her.
"Pika?"
"It's time to eat dinner, Serena," Clemont said. She didn't say anything.
"Serena, please. It's good for your strength," Bonnie said, but Clemont just pulled on her shoulder.
"Leave her alone for now," he muttered, tugging Bonnie into the room next door. "She needs the rest."
Roughly ten minutes later, Serena was about to drift into the void of sleep when the automatic doors slid open.
"Get up."
Serena tried to brace herself but she was no match as Gary grabbed the neck of her blouse and slammed her against a wall.
"Gary!" Nurse Joy said.
"Quiet, you," Gary replied.
"Pika pika!" Pikachu said. Apparently it was sleeping next to Serena.
"You too, Pikachu. And you. You call yourself a Pokémon trainer?" Gary said. Serena didn't respond.
"I said," Gary said, slamming Serena harder into the wall. "You call yourself a Pokémon trainer!?"
"Yes!" Serena managed to squeak out.
"Then what was that poor excuse of a battle?!" Gary said. "How many hours did you spend perfecting those dumb 'pretty' effects? It's useless. Useless!"
"I'm a Pokémon Performer, okay?" Serena choked out. "I didn't want to battle. I never wanted to battle you!"
"What, you think you can save Ashey boy just by being pretty and winning contests?" Gary said.
"W-what?" said Serena.
"You and Arceus know what I mean," Gary said. He actually growled. "That freaking Tuck is strong and you know it. Probably the strongest trainer we've ever seen. And you thought for a second that badge-less you could challenge him?! Ashey boy couldn't even beat two of his Pokémon, and I'll admit it, Ash is a better Pokémon trainer than I am."
"Go back to Kalos where it's all pretty and beautiful," Gary continued. "You don't belong here. You even gave up on your Pokémon. Pikachu was fighting to the end to defeat me. And your Braixen? Pancham? They wanted to fight. But you ignored their will."
"You were hurting them!" Serena said. Gary's words stung. A lot. She latched onto anything, anything she could use to make his words be wrong.
"So?" Gary said. He let go of Serena and she slumped down to the floor. "Ash is hurting you on this journey, yet you still want to continue. Fine. If you want to stay here in Kanto, go ahead."
"I'll win," Serena said. Gary couldn't see her eyes under her hat.
"What was that?"
"I'll get all seven Kanto badges and then take yours," Serena said, shaking even more. She looked up at Gary, and while there were tears streaming from her face, her eyes were defiant. "I'll beat you! I'll beat you, I'll beat Tuck, and I'll find Ash!"
"Well, don't just say that," Gary said, annoyed. "Do it. He started walking back outside, not even turning around when he said, "By the way, don't come back to my gym until you've collected all seven other badges. I'm sick of your face. Smell you later."
All three of Serena's Pokeballs suddenly opened.
"Braixen!" Braixen said. She rested her warming snout onto Serena.
"Pan! Pancham!" the Pokémon said, hugging Serena's legs.
"Sylvie," Sylveon said, wrapping her ribbons around Serena's arms.
"Pikachuu," Pikachu said, snuggling right next to her.
"Thank you everyone," she said as she drifted off into a dreamless sleep. "For everything."
Back outside, as Gary got into the driver's seat of a red sports car, one of his Pokéballs shuddered.
"Sorry you couldn't battle today Blastoise," Gary said, looking at the Pokéball.