Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.

Pokémon: Sinnoh no Isekai

Chapter One-hundred and seventy-three: Serena's Strength

The heroes were making their way to Lumiose City so that Ash and the reborn trainers can have their respective gym battles against Clemont, who left on a helicopter with Duchess Maaya near the power plant that supplies Lumiose City with most of its power. The heroes stopped at a Pokémon Center and, while their Pokémon were all being treated, they watched a broadcast on the TV in the lobby. A broadcast about the recent Pokémon Showcase over in Coumarine City, which Serena took part in but ultimately didn't win in the end.

The broadcast went on about how Ochaco, a girl who is into studying Pokémon revived from fossils, had won the Showcase, doing so with her Amaura and a shiny Raichu. "Kind of cool, isn't it?" Bonnie said, catching Serena's attention, "How that girl who's into fossil Pokémon had won."

"I'll catch up to Ochaco," Serena swore, "Then I'll be able to start earning the Princess Keys I need to get into the Master Rank Showcase! Fennekin, Pancham, and I will start showing what we can do!"

"That's the spirit!" Ash cheered. At around that time, Nurse Joy told the heroes that all of their Pokémon have been treated, so the were able to collect them. Once that was taken care of, the heroes got to training.

Serena would be giving her training her all, even though she was training for something different from what Ash, Dawn, Kenny, and Trip were all aiming for.

Serena, with Bonnie watching from the sides, was going through some routines for Showcases, leading Fennekin and Pancham through the ropes. As Bonnie watched, Dawn came walking up with Chi-Chi following her. "How's Serena's Showcase training going?" Dawn asked as she and Chi-Chi moved to stand next to Bonnie.

"Fennekin and Pancham are being really cute," Bonnie remarked, "And the tricks they're doing look awesome!"

Dawn nodded once and turned to look at where Serena was practicing. After the Coumarine City Pokémon Showcase, Serena had told Dawn she followed her advice and gave the get up she had put on Fennekin a careful going over and, seeing the ribbon on Fennekin had overly long lengths hanging down, trimmed it down to size so that Fennekin wouldn't trip on it, leading to Serena and Fennekin's go down the runway going off without a hitch. Even though Serena had done FAR better here that what Dawn remembered from the anime in her previous life, Serena still lost because one of her opponents in her bracket in round one had used a shiny Pokémon.

Since Serena (most likely) would have at least made it past round one otherwise, it gave her the idea that she at least got something right, thus she had taken to focusing on how to improve what all she had down so far. However, the training came to a screeching halt when, while having Fennekin make a fiery ring for Pancham to jump through, Pancham's tail accidentally got singed, making him yelp in pain and strike Fennekin before snapping at her. Fennekin retaliated with Flamethrower, which Pancham dodged by doing a tuck and roll to hide behind Serena, leading to her getting roasted a little bit by Fennekin's fire.

"Fennekin! Pancham! Behave yourselves!" Serena snapped, startling both of her Pokémon into settling down. Serena suddenly realized what she did and, looking kind of embarrassed, turned around and ran off.

Dawn let out a troubled sigh. "...Bonnie, please watch Serena's Pokémon," Dawn said, "Chi-Chi and I are going after Serena." Bonnie nodded in understanding before Dawn took off after Serena, with the named Infernape following after her.

...

Serena, after getting into town somewhere, looked at a display window absentmindedly. She let out a troubled sigh. "...I'm a failure as a Performer," Serena remarked, aloud but to herself.

"I don't think so," a random female voice spoke up, making Serena turn to face her. It was a girl wearing a cute enough outfit, with her long reddish hair worn straight down, a cute bowler hat on her head, and she wore glasses. Gesturing to herself, the girl said, "I'm Ariana, and I actually saw the Pokémon Showcase you took part in back in Coumarine City. Your name's Serena, right?"

Nodding once, Serena said, "Yeah, that's my name."

Nodding once back, the now identified Ariana said, "I saw your go down the runway, and personally I think it was essentially flawless. I picked up a hint of hesitation and worry in the air you gave off, but then again every Performer taking part in that Showcase, aside from that May girl from Hoenn, was similarly as nervous."

"Everyone in that Showcase, myself included, were first timers," Serena said, "Even May, who my friend Ash knows from his time in Hoenn. The main reason May was less nervous is because she had loads of experience with events similar to Pokémon Showcases."

Ariana nodded once. "Yes, I got it that May of the Hoenn region had participated in loads of Pokémon Contests, which are similar in a way to Pokémon Showcases. But I digress." Gesturing to Serena, Ariana went on, "To be honest, you didn't really do anything wrong, you just had the bad luck of having an opponent in your round one bracket having an incredibly rare and appealing Pokémon. I would, however, recommend that you work on being more relaxed when you take part in Showcases."

"She's got a point," Dawn called out, getting both Serena and Ariana to turn to see Dawn come walking up, Chi-Chi following along behind.

Pointing at Dawn, Ariana said, "Y-You're the Sinnoh Champion! Dawn Berlitz!"

Nodding once, Dawn said, "I am, yes." To Serena, Dawn said, "You shouldn't let one setback be the end of the world for you, especially if said setback is, for all intents and purposes, something that was outside of your control. Don't beat yourself up over it, don't let it get to you."

Serena, looking a bit guilty, remarked, "I... I guess you have a point."

"Hey, hey Champion Dawn," Ariana said, "Have you ever considered getting into Pokémon Showcases? I bet you'd be a natural at it!"

Holding up a hand to stem off any argument, Dawn said, "It's not really my cup of tea. I did, once long ago, consider hitting the Contest scene in my home region of Sinnoh, but ultimately felt that battling was my true calling. Although I did participate in one contest, and strangely enough won." Not that anyone outside of Dawn, Trip, Kenny, and Ash knew it, but the Dawn taking part in that contest was actually a body double while Dawn was a body double for them in return. But that's another story for another time. "I'll be sticking with battling, thank you very much," Dawn said.

Nodding once in understanding, Ariana replied, "Fair enough. I bet you'd blow the competition out of the water anyway, given you have a legendary Pokémon."

"Well it's a good thing I wouldn't put Tsukune through events like Contests or Showcases," Dawn went on, only to stop when Ash's alpha Hisuian Braviary came flying in and, spotting Dawn and Serena, squawked at them in a clear way to show he wanted them to follow him. "...Something's happening at the Pokémon Center," Dawn said, "We need to head back."

"Right!" Serena said, running off with Dawn and Chi-Chi while Ariana followed them as Braviary flew overhead.

Back at the local Pokémon Center, the heroes that were present were fighting off a squad of Team Scorn grunts, being led by Third Captain Jun and his Captain's Assistant Han. Kenny had even Mega Evolved Godzilla to help speed up the process of fending Team Scorn off, meanwhile Bonnie was trying to command both Fennekin and Pancham until Serena could get back. "Alright, you Team Scorn jerks," Ash snarled, "What is it that you came here for?"

"We heard that Aria, the current Kalos Queen of Pokémon Showcases, was here in the area," Jun said, "We're just wanting to... have a talk... with her concerning her career in the field is all."

"You're planning to coerce Aria into yielding to a Performer favored by Team Scorn," Trip said, "Aren't you?"

"If we are, then it's none of your concern," Han replied, "Especially since we actually wouldn't risk an actual member of Team Scorn in the Showcases, lest would be heroes such as yourselves try to sus out such a member."

Jun nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Some higher ups actually have money riding on a bet made over the result of the Master Rank Showcase that'll happen later on, and it wouldn't do if the Team Scorn higher ups lost those bets because Aria insisted on retaining her title."

Surprisingly, it was Kenny who soon figured out what Team Scorn was up to. "...You guys are betting that someone other than Aria will win in the end."

"What we're doing shouldn't be your concern," Han said, then she went on while pointing at Serena's Pancham, "Nuzleaf, use Razor Leaf on Pancham!"

Han's Nuzleaf jumped up, conjured a swarm of leaves, and threw them at Serena's Pancham who Bonnie was commanding at the moment. However, Serena's Fennekin leapt in the way and tanked the grass type attack, enduring thanks to her fire typing granting her resistance to grass attacks. Pancham, seeing Fennekin take the blow for it like that, was surprised beyond words. Furthermore, everyone became surprised when Serena's Fennekin, after crying out at Han's Nuzleaf, began to evolve, with the accompanying bright glowing and form growning and shifting. When the process was done, Serena's Fennekin had evolved into Braixen.

"Well alright!" Bonnie cheered, "Serena's Fennekin had evolved into Braixen!"

Scowling, Han said, "That doesn't matter either! Nuzleaf, u-"

"Chi-Chi, use Brick Break on Nuzleaf!"

Han was cut off when Dawn called out, then suddenly an Infernape rushed in and struck Nuzleaf with a Brick Break attack, knocking it out. Dawn, with Serena and Ariana running after them and Ash's Braviary flying overhead, called out, "Chi-Chi, use Fire Punch on Jun's Scyther!" With momentum, Chi-Chi spun on her left heel to throw a flame-cloaked fist right into Jun's Scyther that he had out, knocking it out in one blow. A similar thing occurred when Jun sent his other Scyther out, but this time Chi-Chi knocked it out with Thunder Punch.

Jun, seeing that the cavalry had arrived for the heroes, pulled back after recalling his second fainted Scyther. "Fine, we'll have to have a talk with Aria the Kalos Queen later," Jun said as some of the Team Scorn grunts with him threw smoke grenades to mask their escape. Although all of Team Scorn got away, they had failed in their stated objective and had nothing in the ways of consolation; a flat out victory for the heroes.

...

After everything had been settled, with things being cleaned up and Serena and her Pokémon apologizing to one another, the heroes (aside from Dawn who remembered it from the anime in her previous life) were surprised when Ariana revealed herself to be Aria, the current Kalos Queen of Pokémon Showcases. "Team Scorn wanted to try and coerce me into ultimately yielding in the finals of the eventual Master Rank Pokémon Showcase this year, huh?" Aria said when she was filled in on what she as well as Dawn and Serena had missed.

Trip nodded once in the affirmative. "They said some higher ups in Team Scorn have bets riding on someone taking your title from you in the Master Rank Showcase," Trip explained, "And what's more is that they don't have any of their own entered, they're just relying on Performers who naturally have entered. The other Performers are unknowing, unwitting pawns, so we can't really hold any of them accountable."

Aria folded her arms over her chest. "...Under normal circumstances, an event like this would cancel Pokémon Showcases for the rest of the year, as not only is there a known party intentionally trying to sabotage the Showcase scene in their favor, but said known party is criminal in nature. But the Showcase Season for this year has literally just started, meaning there will be a LOT of backtracking when it comes to shoring up expenses. Not to mention how all competing Performers are innocent and have no knowledge of the fact they're being used."

"Also," Kenny said, "A lot of Performers will be mad if the season's canceled, regardless of the fact that criminals who are essentially terrorists are trying to manipulate things from behind the scenes."

Aria nodded in agreement. "I'll have to discuss this with my mentor, see what she thinks. She'll probably argue for canceling the rest of the season for safety reasons, but the sponsors helping to pay for everything may not be as keen on the idea. If anything, at a minimum there will be greatly increased security." Turning to look right at Serena, Aria said, "That being said, you Serena still ought to catch up. You have great skills, especially for someone who started just this season. Study the successes of other Performers would be the best thing I can suggest, learn from them to see what they did right."

Serena, with her Pancham and now Braixen, nodded in agreement. "Got it, Ar-" Serena was cut off when a phone call went off, prompting Aria to pull a phone out. Aria took the call and, after finishing it, told the heroes she had to get going. The heroes waved Aria good bye, then continued on their own way to get to Lumiose City, where Ash and the reborn trainers would be seeing Clemont.

Much later on, the heroes took a break at a Pokémon Center they came upon. They talked to Clemont on the video phone, who expressed shock about Team Scorn now trying to manipulate the Pokémon Showcase scene to their liking. "Something like that would get the current Showcase season canceled for the rest of the year!" said Clemont, "And yet it's going to be kept under wraps?"

"Aria is going to discuss the matter with persons who have the final say in the matter," Dawn said, "We'll leave things up to them."

"I'm kind of hoping that the current Showcase season isn't canceled," Serena said, "But given what happened, I'll understand if things do get canceled early."

"So how are you doing, Clemont?" Ash asked.

"Oh, I'm glad you asked," Clemont began, "I've finished a new invention that detects dirt and-"

*KABOOM*

Clemont on his end of the video call was cut off when something exploded behind him. Turning to see, Clemont said, "Aaaand it blew up just now." Kenny couldn't help but chuckle at Clemont's invention blowing up.

...

Later, the heroes were continuing their journey to Lumiose City when Ash said, "We still ought to get in some training. I for one need to figure out a way to counter what all Clemont might bring to the table."

"Then maybe I can be of assistance!" the familiar voice of Tierno called out, making the heroes turn to see Teirno come waling over to them. "You mentioned battling your friend Clemont who I see is missing?" Tierno said.

"He's actually the leader of the Lumiose City gym," Trip explained, "He left our group to head back to Lumiose City to train for when we get there. He's getting ready since me, Ash, Dawn, and Kenny all plan to challenge him rather than his robot double."

"Ah yes, the Clembot," Tierno said, then went on after taking out a Voltage Badge, "I battled and beat the robot to get my Voltage Badge here."

"I guess that means you can help Ash and the others on what to expect," Serena replied.

"Oh Serena!" Tierno said, leaping up and doing a twirl before laning in front of Serena in a kneeling position as if her were proposing, "To hear such confidence from a girl as lovely as you fills me with no end of elation!" Tierno's eyes were practically pink hearts as he beheld Serena. "And your awesome performance in the Coumarine City Pokémon Showcase was nothing short of divine!"

"Ah heh heh," Serena said, clearly a bit embarrassed as she backed up a step, "That's... nice to hear. But you really ought to help Ash and the others with getting ready to face off against Clemont's gym in Lumiose City."

Tierno was still kneeling in front of Serena when Dawn went over and pulled him up to his feet by holding onto his arm and hoisting him up. "Come on, Tierno," Dawn said, "I think I speak for Trip, Kenny, and Ash when I say the four of us would love to hear what all you can offer us on taking on the Lumiose City gym."

"Oh, okay," Tierno replied, agreeing to help the trainers taking on Clemont's gym get ready for their challenge.

...

Ash and the reborn trainers soon began working with Tierno while Serena and Bonnie watched from the sidelines. Tierno's team now consisted of a Wartortle who evolved from his Squirtle, a Ludicolo, a Politoed, a Hitmontop, a Raichu, and an Arcanine. "I actually took your advice, Dawn," Tierno said, "And looked for a good fire type Pokémon for my dance crew. Hence my Arcanine who I caught as a Growlithe."

Clapping her hands together, Dawn said, "Well alright, Tierno! Arcanine is a good choice in fire Pokémon."

"Arcanine actually helped with me earning the Voltage Badge," Tierno said, "Given that she learned Bulldoze. I had also gotten Raichu to help with that gym."

"Yeah, I can see why you'd spring for a Raichu," Kenny said, "You have a fair number of Pokémon weak to electric attacks, which are used by electric gyms such as the joint that Clemont has running in Lumiose City."

Gesturing to the heroes, Tierno said, "So what all Pokémon do you guys have planned to use?"

Dawn was about to speak up, but she was cut off when a mechanical arm reached in and tried to grab at Ash's Pikachu, only to miss and grab at Tierno's Arcanine instead, who merely broke it by raising her right left paw up and smashing it down against a joint in the arm. "Drat!" called out the familiar voice of Jessie, formerly of Team Rocket but now of Team Scorn, "I almost got the twerp's Pikachu!"

"Team Rocket!" Kenny exclaimed, only to be but off when Jessie, wearing her Team Scorn outfit, came into view with a dozen other Team Scorn grunts. "Oh yeah," Kenny said, "You and your buddies belong to Team Scorn now after Team Rocket went belly up."

Pointing a dramatic finger at Kenny, Jessie scowled, "I still have some pent up aggression towards you twerps over that! Anyway, the lads here and I will be taking all of you hostage and stealing all of your Pokémon, starting with the lead twerp's Pikachu!"

"Umm, Captain's Assistant Jessie," one of the female Scorn grunts spoke up, "A thought occurs. I get why stealing the Pokémon of these trainers would be practical, it'd keep them from fighting back, but why are you placing so much stock on the Pikachu belonging to who I'm assuming is Ash Ketchum?"

Pointing at where Ash stood, Jessie said to the felame grunt, "Because that Pikachu is a rare and valuable Pokémon that is bound to make the boss pleased with us if we present it to him!"

"When you say 'the boss'," began a male grunt, "Do you mean the actual boss of Team Scorn, or either Admin Hero who leads the Shield Sector, or Admin Ninja who heads the Kunai Sector that you and Captain James and his talking Meowth come from?"

Looking curious, Jessie replied, "Umm, why should it matter?"

"Well for starters," the same male grunt began, "Only Admins and the Boss's Assistant can actually directly see the Boss period, meaning anything we get will go to either a Shield Sector Captain or Captain James, then to an Admin who will then bring it to the Boss. Second, I highly doubt that the Boss would place as much stock in a random Pikachu as what you're placing in it."

Gesturing to Jessie, Ash explained, "She, James, and Meowth used to belong to Team Rocket and tried stealing my Pikachu literally all the time. Her putting so much stock in trying to take my Pikachu this time is probably due to a force of habit."

"Why are you guys harassing us this time?" Trip asked.

"We're actually assigned to try to keep you guys occupied long enough for Captain James to finish the recon mission in Lumiose City that he and a few others are running for Admin Hero," the first female grunt explained, "Captain James and his group were loaned to the Shield Sector to help us out, also to help with Captain James getting used to being in a position of authority within Team Scorn."

Rolling his eyes, Trip said, "Oh yeah, James is a Captain now. And let me guess, the rest of James's name is 'T. Kirk'."

Jessie arched a wry, mildly surprised eyebrow. "...Actually, yes, that is James's full name." Pointing at Trip, Jessie asked, "How did you know that, twerp?"

"I was just randomly guessing," Trip admitted, "I actually didn't know! Holy geez, that is hilarious!"

Growling with frustration, Jessie said, "Forget this! Let's just swarm the twerps, take their Pokémon, and take the twerps hostage!"

Right as the members of Team Scorn began moving in, they all stopped when the first female grunt held an arm out. "...A raindrop just hit my face," the female grunt said. Sure enough, more drops began to fall, and soon enough it began to rain heavily.

"Arcanine, this change in weather won't agree with you," Tierno said, "Return!" After Tierno recalled his Arcanine, he said to the rest of his Pokémon, "You all can fair much better under rain, though!"

"Tierno's got a point," Dawn said, "Fire types don't do well when it's raining!" Tossing up a pokéball to call out her named Garchomp Germany, Dawn went on, "We need to avoid using fire!"

Ash was about to say something, but stopped short when he saw his Sliggoo hop up and down joyously. "Sliggoo must like the rain," Ash remarked, "That being said, it may have an advantage here!" The heroes then began fighting back against Team Scorn, with Dawn having Germany take out every Pokémon that Jessie sent out into battle. Although Team Scorn outnumbered the heroes a little over two to one, the numbers were the only advantage that the members of Team Scorn, all of them at the grunt level (Jessie technically in her case as an Officer's Assistant), and the heroes had loads of quality on their side.

During the fighting, Ash's Sliggoo took out an enemy Litleo and, after that, with the rain that was coming down on the battlefield pattering against its form, Sliggoo gave a loud cry right before it began glowing a bright white color. It's form shifted and grew, and eventually the form growing and shifting ended, with the glowing fading to reveal that Ash's Sliggoo had evolved into a Goodra. "Wow!" Serena exclaimed, "Ash's Sliggoo had evolved into Goodra!" Opening its mouth, Ash's now Goodra fired off a Dragon Pulse that blasted right into an enemy Numel, sending it flying away and knocking it out.

"Ash's Goodra had just learned Dragon Pulse!" Tierno said, "Oh man, that is sick!"

Dawn, with an amused smirk on her face, only nodded once before having Germany take out the last Pokémon Jessie had available, a Pumpkaboo. "...Heh, about time that it caught up to Todoroki."

...

Team Scorn was eventually driven off, but not before Jessie spilled that James, with Meowth and a few Team Scorn grunts, were merely doing recon on Lumiose City in regards to when it'll host the Lumiose Conference later on, figuring out where the tournament was going to be held, what places would be shifting gears when the conference kicked off. Hell, some of what James's group was doing wasn't even illegal. But some of their activities WERE illegal, hence why they had to sneak around in disguises, as well as send Jessie with some of the lads to find and distract the heroes since James got it they were in the area.

After Team Scorn was driven off, the heroes relaxed. The rain had also let up by that time, allowing the heroes to dry their clothes a bit. As that happened, Ash and the reborn trainers looked at Ash's now Goodra. "Didn't Professor Oak say he wanted to study a case of a Hisuian variant Pokémon with its modern day counterpart?" Kenny said, "And now that Ash has a Goodra, it and Trip's Hisuian Goodra can be studied together?"

"I actually kind of wanna see it myself," Trip said as he called out Todoroki, his named alpha Hisuian Goodra. Todoroki and Goodra looked at one another for a few moments in silence, before Todoroki let out a friendly cry of greeting before going up to Goodra and hugging it, a gesture that Goodra happily and immediately returned in kind.

Seeing his Goodra hugging Trip's Goodra drew an amused smile out of Ash. "Well at least they won't let being different variants of the same species distract from how they can still be friends."

Since things were settled for the time being, Tierno took off, wishing the heroes luck in their endeavors. Tierno gave a specific wish of good luck to Serena that made it clear he had her in his eyes, and Serena more or less brushed it off out of embarrassment, especially considering that she could tell Tierno liked her but Serena herself had a different boy in her eyes. Dawn told Tierno that she and the boys would get Voltage Badges soon and catch up to him, a statement that got a nod of approval out of Tierno. The two groups then waved one another good bye, and left to continue going down their respective roads.

END, CHAPTER ONE-HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-THREE

Author's notes;

This chapter sees Serena meet Aria the Kalos Queen, as well as reveal a potential Team Scorn plot on the Pokémon Showcase scene. It also sees Serena's Fennekin evolve into Braixen, a move that will help later on. Speaking of evolving, Ash's Sliggoo evolves into Goodra when a group of Team Scorn grunts rallied by Jessie try to keep the heroes and Tierno occupied to buy James and his small squad time to carry out a recon mission in Lumiose City. Although Team Scorn is beaten off, there's no telling if they bought James enough time to gather intel for mapping out potential Team Scorn plans for the Lumiose Conference, which is still quite a ways off.

Anyway, the next chapter will see the heroes get to Lumiose City where they will reunite with Clemont, as well as see Ash and the reborn trainers have their respective goes to try and earn Voltage Badges. The next chapter will be... shocking.

Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Germany (male Garchomp), Argent (male Arcanine; alpha; Hisuian), Ieyasu (male Aerodactyl), Leni (female Lucario), Tsukune (Palkia)

Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Roshi (male Torterra), Cell (male Scizor; shiny), Hovernyan (male Meowstic), Goofy (male Houndoom), Godzilla (male Tyranitar), Black (Giratina; Origin Form)

Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Mr. Popo (male Magmortar), Dovahgex (male Sceptile), Myde (male Empoleon), Kululu (male Greninja), Deelia (Dialga), Todoroki (male Goodra; alpha; Hisuian)

Ash's Pokémon: (on hand) Pikachu (male), Charizard (male), Goodra (male), Frogadier (male), Fletchling (male), Braviary (male; alpha; Hisuian)