Chapter Nineteen: A Grave Performance

Even though this would only be Serena's third Exposition, the process of preparing for the Location Round already felt familiar. The biggest difference was that this time, and Ash and his Pokémon were doing the same thing. Serena had no idea what they were planning, but they were clearly very excited about it, and she liked seeing them return from their practice sessions with big smiles, still discussing their appeal.

Of course, Serena and her Pokémon weren't sitting still, either. Even though their visit to Pokémon Tower hadn't quite gone as expected, it had helped to inspire Serena in coming up with a good performance, and Misdreavus was excited to be playing such an important part in it. It would be a very different kind of performance to the previous two, but it would surely be good enough to make it through the Location Round with a good ranking.

Serena, Delphox, and Sylveon sat on a rock, watching Pancham and Misdreavus excitedly discussing their part in the show and trying out different variations of the moves they were going to be using.

"I was afraid Misdreavus wouldn't like the idea of not doing a scary performance, but I guess I was worried for nothing," Serena said.

("I think she'd be fine doing any kind of performance with Pancham,") Delphox said.

("Yeah, she clearly likes him,") Sylveon agreed.

"Wait, she does?" Serena asked.

Delphox sighed. ("You've been around Ash too much,") she said. ("Of course she likes him.")

("I think Pancham likes her, too,") Sylveon said. ("Though I don't think he'd ever admit it to us.")

Serena said nothing and just looked at Pancham and Misdreavus, paying a bit more attention to them than she'd been doing before. They did seem to get along well, but did that really mean they liked each other beyond basic friendship? In such a short amount of time? Then again, Serena had had a crush on Ash ever since their first meeting, so it certainly wasn't impossible.

She hadn't really thought about her conversation with Ash anymore after their encounter with Team Rocket at the Power Plant, but now it came back to her again, and she wondered if Ash would have given it any more thought. She didn't actually have any new insights from not actively thinking about it for some time, though Ash's remark in the Pokémon Tower, that he was happy Serena was with him, did make her feel all warm and fuzzy inside, as did the small blush on his face afterwards.

If nothing else, she was at least certain he cared a lot about her, and that meant that there was still a chance of them getting together — but again, she wasn't really able to envision what that would look like, other than, as Ash had said, what they were already doing now. Yeah, she'd like a bit more physical contact, holding hands, hugging…kissing, maybe, but both of them were following their dreams, and their journeys aligned at least for the time being. Everything else just felt less pressing right now, especially since here there weren't any of Ash's old traveling companions to make her jealous.

Still, they'd have to revisit their conversation at some point in the future, once at least one of them had figured out what the very concept of a relationship actually meant to them. Pancham and Misdreavus certainly didn't look like they had any such worries, though of course, Serena didn't think either of them had admitted to any feelings other than friendship for each other, if they were even there. But Delphox and Sylveon both seemed to think so, and they were generally fairly accurate with such things.

Serena decided that she'd just keep an eye on things to see how they developed. For now, though, there was still some work to be done.

She got up from the rock she was sitting on and said, "All right, everyone, let's go through the whole routine from the beginning. Sylveon, you keep an eye on the details, okay?"

"I can't wait for tomorrow!" Ash said as they were eating dinner in the Pokémon Center. "My first Exposition! It's going to be so awesome!"

("People are going to be amazed,") Pikachu agreed.

"I can't wait to see what you've come up with, Ash," Serena said with a smile. "Did you manage to find the costumes you wanted?"

Ash nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! They were a bit surprised when I told them what I needed them for, but we got everything we need."

("I'm both curious and worried as to what you've come up with,") Delphox said.

("Why worried?") Misdreavus asked.

("Ash is insane, and his Pokémon are, too,") Pancham said simply. ("They're really strong, though; you should see them in Gym battles.")

("It's going to be great,") Noivern said. ("It was a lot of fun to practice for it, too.")

("I just wish I could participate as well, but alas,") Hawlucha said with a sigh.

"Don't worry, Hawlucha, you'll get to participate in an Exposition too when we're doing another one," Ash said.

("I'm just glad I get to do anything, really,") Talonflame said. ("It feels like I haven't done anything yet since I came to Kanto.")

"You'll definitely participate in the Celadon Gym battle," Ash said. "But Vermilion's an Electric-type Gym and I already know who I want to use there."

("Me,") Pikachu said immediately, and Ash grinned.

"Of course," he said. "But there are two others, too, and I'll need to rotate them into the team once we're done with the Exposition here."

"I was just beginning to understand Sceptile and Charizard," Serena said with a sigh.

"You'll get the hang of talking to the others quickly enough, I'm sure," Ash said. "So anyway, how did your preparations go? All ready for tomorrow?"

Serena nodded. "Yeah! We've worked really hard, and I think we'll be amazing."

("We'll be so good it'll scare you!") Misdreavus said.

("So will we,") Pikachu promised.

After the customary night with far too little sleep, Serena and Ash made their way to the stadium early the next morning and registered. Normally, that would be the point where Ash and Pikachu would go to find seats while Serena went backstage to get ready to perform, but this time both of them headed backstage together.

"Well, we'll see you later," Ash said once they were there. "We're going to get ready, and we want to keep our costumes a surprise for you until it's our turn to go on stage."

Serena nodded and gave them a smile. "Alright. Good luck!"

"You too! Come on, buddy, let's get going," Ash said to Pikachu, before walking off.

Serena called out her Pokémon as well, even Sylveon, even though she wouldn't be participating.

"Let's go and get ready too," she said, and they headed over to the dressing rooms.

For today's performance, Serena would be wearing a long dress that looked almost black, but was actually a very dark shade of purple, with matching long gloves and a gauze veil. Pancham wore a black jacket, and had black sunglasses as well for the occasion. Delphox and Misdreavus didn't have any costumes this time. Delphox because she already looked the part and any accessories wouldn't fit the theme, and Misdreavus because she couldn't wear anything to begin with, because she needed to be able to phase through the ground.

Once they'd gotten ready, they went over to the waiting room, where the appeal order had just been posted on the screens. Ash would perform sixth, and Serena was eleventh.

("Nice, Ash is before us,") Pancham said. ("That means we'll immediately know if we're going to be better than he is.")

"Don't underestimate Ash," Serena said. "He's a strong Trainer, after all. I'm sure he and his Pokémon came up with something good."

("They do have a strong bond,") Delphox said, ("but, well…it's Ash. I'm not sure if he's the performing type. His dancing is atrocious.")

Serena giggled. "I'm sure he'll have taken that into consideration," she said.

She was really curious to see what Ash had come up with, and when it was finally his turn to go on, Serena and her Pokémon eagerly looked up at one of the screens showing the appeals.

The lights on the field went on — and revealed Ash, who seemed to be dressed in a stereotypical vampire costume with a long, black cape with a ridiculously high collar. Noivern was next to him, and both of them seemed to be attempting a menacing scowl, which…didn't really work for either of them, despite Noivern being a literal dragon of a species known for being vicious.

"Oh…wow…um…" Serena said uncomfortably.

("Oh, no,") Delphox said.

("Cool cape, though,") Pancham said.

Misdreavus and Sylveon just looked confused.

Ash and Noivern now began to move to the edge of the field, sneaking like they were characters in some kind of old, silent movie, and accompanied by the most generic over-the-top evil music imaginable.

Delphox pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed deeply, sounding like she'd just lost all of her will to live.

On a loud cymbal crash in the music, Pikachu and Talonflame dropped down from the ceiling. Pikachu was riding on Talonflame's back, dressed in a brown leather coat and a hat. He gestured wildly at Ash, holding what appeared to be a wooden stake in his paw.

Ash flourished his cape, laughed maniacally, and made grand, sweeping gesture, sending Noivern forward, who launched an Acrobatics.

Pikachu jumped up from Talonflame's back, who immediately went into a Flame Charge to match Noivern blow-for-blow as they sped around the arena.

While the fight certainly looked spectacular, the same really couldn't be said about the 'fight' between Ash and Pikachu.

All Ash's 'attacks' were wide and theatrical, as were Pikachu's dodges, and for all their coordination in battle, their choreography now was truly abysmal.

("This is such a mess,") Pancham said, watching in awe.

("They are scaring me with their performance…just not in a good way,") Misdreavus said.

When Pikachu used an Iron Tail to force Ash to back up, and Ash threw himself backwards with an exaggerated dive, Serena couldn't take it anymore and broke down laughing.

"This is just…so Ash," she said as she tried to regain her composure and focus on the screen again, where Talonflame now Flame Charged Noivern into the ground, while Pikachu brought Ash to his knees with a Thunderbolt, before leaping at him and 'killing' him with the stake he'd been holding the entire time.

Ash, as expected, 'died' in the most dramatic way possible, even pulling out a ketchup bottle from a pocket and squirting a shot of ketchup at Pikachu, who recoiled, but was clearly enjoying licking the ketchup off his face.

("I have no words for this,") Delphox said.

("I do,") Pancham said. ("Awful, terrible, horrible…")

("Lame, idiotic…") Misdreavus suggested.

("It looked like fun, though,") Sylveon said.

"I bet Ash thought so, too," Serena said, unable to get the stupid grin off of her face.

It really hadn't been a very good performance. Even though the battle between Noivern and Talonflame had been impressive, the fight between Ash and Pikachu would've drawn the audience's attention, and that had been an absolute mess from start to finish. Even so, it made Serena happy to look at it and see how much fun Ash was having while performing.

Then it was time for the audience to vote, and by a quick scan of the expressions of the audience, Serena was able to see that a lot of people seemed to have taken it as a comedy performance, which meant that slightly over half of them ended up voting for Ash to advance, even though of the three judges, only the Lavender Town resident who was voting in place of the Gym Leader, a man called Mr. Fuji, voted in Ash's favor. Neither Nurse Joy nor Nikolaos had seemed to be impressed.

"Let's…let's go and greet Ash," Serena said.

She was still having some trouble getting her face into a neutral expression, and the moment she saw Ash emerging from the tunnel in his vampire costume, still stained by ketchup, she had to turn away because she didn't want to laugh in Ash's face.

"So…what'd you think?" Ash asked.

Serena composed herself as well as she could and said, "It was–"

("What did you think?") Pancham interrupted. ("I mean, I dig the cape, but, dude, that was terrible.")

"Come on, Pancham, be nice," Serena said. "It was…unique," she said to Ash.

"I know! Cool, right?" Ash said.

("It was funny, at least,") Misdreavus said.

("I'm beginning to get the feeling we're the only ones who actually think we were any good,") Pikachu said.

("What was your first clue?") Pancham asked.

Ash hesitated. "Were we really that bad?" he asked.

"You…should probably watch a replay of your performance," Serena said gently. "But, um…yeah, you're kind of lucky so many people thought it was a comedy piece."

"Hmm, maybe the ketchup was too much," Ash mused, seemingly unperturbed by the lukewarm reception of his appeal.

("The ketchup was not too much,") Pikachu said indignantly. ("There is no such thing as too much ketchup.")

("Yeah, dude? The ketchup was the least of your problems,") Pancham said. He turned to Noivern and Talonflame. ("You two were good, though. Your fight was, anyway. Too bad everyone was just watching Ash and Pikachu stumble around.")

("Thanks,") Noivern said with a grin. ("But I don't mind that people were laughing at us. I had fun, anyway.")

("And we'll show them what we've got in the Showoff Round,") Talonflame added.

"That's the spirit, guys," Ash said. "Come on, let's go get ourselves cleaned up a bit. Good luck in a moment, Serena," he went on.

They headed off, still looking entirely satisfied with their performance. Serena had to admit she admired that kind of confidence. If people had laughed at her performance without it being intended to be funny, she'd be feeling pretty bad about herself. Ash, though, just seemed to be taking it in stride, already looking ahead to the Showoff Round now that his place there was secure. Well, she fully intended to join him there soon, and after just a few more appeals, it was finally her turn.

"All right, everyone, let's go out there and have fun. Sylveon, you can go and join Ash to watch us on the screen, okay?" Serena said.

Sylveon nodded, and after wishing everyone good luck she walked off to join Ash.

("Let's show Ash what a real performance looks like, right, Misdreavus?") Pancham asked.

Misdreavus nodded eagerly. ("Right!") she said.

Serena and Delphox exchanged a look and smiled, and then they got ready to go on.

The lights went out, and Serena picked up Pancham and flipped her veil in front of her face. Misdreavus sank into the ground and Delphox took her position in front of Serena.

The music, a slow, emotional piano piece, began to play, and a single, dim spotlight went on, pointing at the entrance. Delphox slowly walked forward, tracing lingering arcs of fire in the air with her branch. Serena followed her, looking at the ground, and carrying Pancham in her arms.

At around two-thirds of the field, Delphox stepped aside and Serena gently put Pancham down on the ground, before stepping back and mournfully holding her hands over her heart.

From the far end of the field, Misdreavus slowly rose up from the ground, curiously looking at Serena and Delphox as Delphox traced more fire into the air.

She floated closer to Pancham, and Delphox noticed her, imperiously waving her branch at Misdreavus to tell her to back off, but Misdreavus ignored her and kept coming closer, until she hovered directly over Pancham.

Serena took a step back, giving Misdreavus a frightened look, and she slowly shook her head as Delphox seemed to be preparing to perform an exorcising ritual.

Misdreavus frantically shook her head and looked at Pancham. Her eyes and necklace flashed, and a glowing Stone Edge tomb appeared around Pancham.

Misdreavus flew through it and the tomb began to glow purple when she placed a Shadow Ball inside of it. She then smiled at Serena and Delphox, both of whom inclined their heads at her.

Delphox solemnly closed her eyes and slowly floated a Hidden Power orb towards the glowing Stone Edge tomb. When it touched it, the tomb and the Shadow Ball within it disintegrated into dust, which Misdreavus then formed into a shadowy cloak around Pancham.

The sparkling shadow-Pancham floated over to Serena, and the two of them performed a slow, graceful dance, accompanied by streaks of Mystical Fire from Delphox.

When Serena and Pancham split apart, Pancham once again landed on the place he'd originally been lain down, before being joined by Misdreavus.

Pancham and Serena smiled at each other, and then Misdreavus's eyes and necklace glowed brightly once again, this time getting so bright that the entire audience had to turn their heads away. Serena and Delphox quickly made their way off the side of the field, kneeling in a corner and watching as the performance continued.

Pancham looked at Misdreavus, whose eyes glowed, and the same kind of glow appeared around Pancham as well as the two of them slowly levitated into the air together. Pancham spread his arms and shot out a stream of Dark Pulse rings, which whirled around him and Misdreavus, whose necklace glowed again as she added her Psybeam to the shimmering waves around her and Pancham.

They engaged in an aerial dance which was almost the same as the one Pancham and Serena had shared moments before, controlled mostly by Misdreavus's Hex and subtly assisted by Pancham using his Dark Pulse to keep himself airborne.

After several graceful passes, they descended, and when they landed Misdreavus used another bright Confuse Ray to momentarily make the audience avert their eyes, as Serena and Delphox joined her and Pancham on stage again.

When the glow faded, Misdreavus was gone and Pancham was once again encased in a Stone Edge tomb. Serena smiled and bowed her head in the direction of the tomb, while Delphox solemnly extend her branch towards the tomb, after which both of them turned around and slowly left the stage.

Just before the dim spotlight on the Stone Edge went out, it began to glow purple again.

The lights went out, and Serena and Delphox joined Pancham and Misdreavus on-stage again when the regular lights came on. The audience applauded, and Serena bowed at each of the stands in turn.

"How'd you like it?" she softly asked Misdreavus.

("It was so much fun! Using Hex and Psybeam at the same time is hard, though,") she said.

("You were great!") Pancham assured her.

"And that was the performance of Artisan Serena!" Nikolaos said. "Will the audience please cast their votes now?"

Serena held her breath as she looked around. Even though she felt like she and her Pokémon had given a solid performance, it wouldn't matter if the audience disagreed.

Fortunately, though, most of what she could see was a sea of green lights, and a few moments later, all three judges had green-lit her performance as well.

Serena smiled brightly and bowed to the judges, as did her Pokémon. The first round had been cleared once again, and now it was time to show off.

It's getting more difficult to write these routines, but I still love doing it. This is the first one I ended up rearranging a bit after initially writing it, though, so I wonder how I'll do going forward.

Small household announcement: I'm not sure if I'll be able to post tomorrow. I've got a training day in another city and I have no idea what my evening's going to look like, so I might not have any time to write. If I don't upload tomorrow, I'll most likely be back on Monday, though.