Part CXIV: Master Class Rematch

"Serena!" An excited, familiar voice said happily from behind her. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"Shauna?" Serena asked as she turned and saw her friend and rival heading over to her, the only thing preventing them from properly greeting each other was the fact that both were dressed up so didn't want to ruffle their outfits. "What are you doing here?"

It was the day of the Lagoon Town Contest and Serena was ready for what she was hoping was going to be her first ribbon. She knew that Emily wasn't present for the Contest as she was currently in Coumarine City according to the blogs that followed the Kalos Contest Circuit this year.

In addition, Brianna wasn't there having apparently headed east to compete in a few Contests near Lumiose City after the incident in Geosenge. That only left Jessilina who was apparently in the area, but Serena hadn't seen the distinctive style of the third member of the so called 'Big 3' in the crowd so she was hopeful that none of them would be in this Contest.

It had only recently been announced that both Jessilina and Emily had become the first coordinators to reach 3 Kalos ribbons each, within days of each other, and thus qualifying for the wildcard round. That instantly made the 2 foreign girls early favorites for the Ribbon Cup. They had been around long enough to establish solid records, as well as good past records, to help ensure they were favorites. In fact, Jessilina hadn't lost yet putting her above Emily at the moment.

They weren't the only ones on the favorite list though. Brianna may only have one ribbon, but she was still the top favorite based on her past and Serena knew that the girl was good enough to merit that designation despite her current attitude.

It had been the news of Jessilina being in the area that had made Serena nervous. The woman had been won the Ambrette Town Contest the day after Jessilee had won the Performance there and with Jessilee winning the Lagoon Town Showcase the day before, Serena had been nervous about seeing Jessilina here.

However, the few reports that were out on the homely but camera happy and slightly eccentric woman from Sinnoh claimed that she was already heading to Coumarine City aiming to win her 4th ribbon there. She would then finish it with the Wallace Cup, which all the favorites had claimed was their 5th ribbon goal of the year as it was the most prestigious.

Well, that and it was believed that Misty wouldn't enter it meaning that the first new champion in 4 years would claim the Aqua Ribbon. However, the Wallace Cup wasn't until near the end of the season, so Serena wasn't worried about it just yet. She was more focused on the Contest at hand.

Serena hadn't believed the reports about Jessilina until after registering and waiting for the Contest to start, which was soon, but now that registration was done she was certain the Jessilina wasn't going to show up. She expected to finally meet the woman in the Coumarine Contest though so she would have to be ready for her then.

That meant that with all 3 favorites not here, and Miette apparently at another Contest to the northeast, Serena was certain that she finally had a chance to win a Contest and build up her confidence in them.

Of course, that had been when fate had decided to throw her a fun curveball right before the Contest started. That curveball took the form of an energetic, lithe, petite, tanned girl Serena's age with warm light green eyes and brown hair done in an elaborate side twin tail style with large clumps around the points her hair flowed form the sides and a strange star like pattern in the center of her forehead.

Shauna had been the girl who had set Serena on the path of becoming a coordinator at Sycamore's summer camp and for that she would always be grateful towards the girl. She had also become Serena's first rival as a performer, as well as fellow finalist in the Master Class and close friend.

Shauna had gone with an outfit that Serena knew she'd used in Showcases in the past. The girl was wearing a simple pink dress that fell down to her upper thighs showing off her long legs with a pair of white lines running down it from her shoulders and a black ruffled hem. The same hem style was also on the sleeves of the white vest top she wore and the cuffs of the white gloves that came to her mid forearms. She accented it all with a black sash around her waist, a large black bow in the center, a black bowtie at her throat and small bow earrings.

It was a fitting and very Shauna outfit, a formal showing of her preferred style of bright pink and black bows. Serena for her part was wearing the same dress and accessories she'd worn in her Showcase debut. Usually, she'd get something new for a Contest but as Lagoon Town had been she'd fallen in love with Showcases and found her path in life she felt that this was the best way to honor it while planning something special for the Coumarine Contest where her first Showcase, and its utter failure, took place.

"Same as you it seems, improving my performing through coordinating." Shauna said simply. "Once you showed up in Odyssey Village in the first Contest, well all of us knew that if the Master Class winner was doing this then the rest of us should try it out as well and see what Contests were like."

"I didn't realize I had started a trend." Serena admitted a little embarrassed. "I ran into Miette the other day on the other side of the Canyon as we made our way to Shalour City and learned that she was competing as well but as were such intense as rivals I wasn't so surprised that she was competing this year."

"Oh yeah I saw her recently as well." Shauna said with a sly grin that Serena didn't like the look of, Shauna was always too intuitive for her own good when it came to Serena. "She beat me in a Contest final before I came here to get her first ribbon. We chatted about everything there and she mentioned you two met and found another new rivalry to have. Something about both of you liking the same guy."

"Miette." Serena growled trying to keep her emotions in check. "Damn her and her loud mouth. Did she tell you everything that happened?"

"Oh yes." Shauna said her grin not changing at all. "So, I expect you to introduce me to them when we get a chance as I want to see what the guy who holds your heart is like. I remember May well from last year, but I want to meet this Ash guy, and the girl who claimed him. I hear that she's a force in her own right."

"So is May, don't forget that." Serena pointed out. "I know you watched the incident last year."

"Well yeah but I know May's skills well at this point." Shauna said dismissively. "I am more curious as to this Misty person. I don't know anything about her other than that she's a Top Coordinator from Sinnoh, the recent winner of the Kanto Grand Festival, and a skilled battler. Miette said they had a practice Contest battle and Misty showed her just how much she had yet to learn when it came to double battles."

"She did that with me as well back in Santalune City." Serena admitted. "And that is accurate, Misty is very skilled in Contest battles and has one of the widest and most eclectic selection of Pokémon at her disposal. Many of those Pokémon are not ones you'd associate with her given how she's as girly as I am and just as attractive. I've learned that with her, as with Ash, to never judge a trainer by their appearance."

"Really?" Shauna asked. "She's that good?"

"Let's just say that she's more than a pretty face." Serena said. "And if you expect her Pokémon based off her starter, a Piplup, you will lose because she has Pokémon that no one expects coming and I mean no one. That girl has one Pokémon that is so uncommon that only one other known trainer has one and it's a Pokémon that is tough to battle."

"Intriguing." Shauna said. "Shame she's not competing but as a Top Coordinator I guess she can't compete."

"She's going to be a performer this year so watch the Showcases for her." Serena said. "I have a feeling she will surprise us in them given the Pokémon she has."

"Noted." Shauna said. "Well, I can't wait to meet them but that is for later. How have you been doing on the circuit?"

"I've gotten the hang of appeals; those aren't a problem." Serena admitted. "But I have a lot more to learn in the battles as they are new to us as performers. I lost to Emily in the finals of the Odyssey Village Contest and Brianna in the semis in Geosenge, so I've faced two of the favorites in the past two Contests I've been in. That doesn't look to bad at least but they both showed me how much I still have to go when it comes to Contest battles."

"I've seen their profiles; they are true coordinators though." Shauna said. "So, nothing to sneeze at losing to them."

"No, they're well above my skills." Serena said deciding not to go into details on the issues with Brianna, they were something she didn't want to bother Shauna with unless she absolutely had to. "What about you? You lost to Miette which means she has a ribbon now much to my annoyance. I'm going to have to catch up to that girl."

"Yeah but Miette always had an edge to her that makes her more adaptable to battles." Shauna said and Serena had to agree, as elegant as Miette was her more confrontational attitude would give her an advantage over other performers in battles, so she'd likely adapted to that aspect of Contests better and she'd shown that to an extent against Misty. "And that was my only Contest to date. I'm not aiming for the Grand Festival, though if I get the requirements be it the wildcard or the main one somehow, I will compete in it of course."

"That is a surprise." Serena said her eyes widening a bit at Shauna's statement. "What are you looking to get out of these then? Other than improving your performing that is."

"I am focused mainly on the appeals." Shauna said simply. "I lost to you in the Master Class final and seeing the appeals made me think that if I can master their style and blend the way an appeal focuses on the Pokémon and its moves with the symbiosis of freestyle performing then I can get to the level to truly challenge Aria. The battles help with bonding but it's the appeals that I am focused on."

"I see." Serena said thinking on Shauna's reasoning. "That is pretty clever. I am going more for the whole thing as I am trying to find that spark that Aria has that I was lacking when we faced off."

"Who isn't." Shauna said with a sigh as a bell sounded, and the TV turned on to show Monsieur Pierre on it in his usual outfit with his Klefki by his side. "But I guess it is time to start."

Serena just nodded as she turned to the TV to listen to the MC of Showcases host his first Contest, the sudden and unexpected Lagoon Town Contest. Serena was getting in the zone because this time she was going to win it. She had a rival here, her closest and best in Shauna, so she was more motivated than ever to show it all in the Contest.

This was her time to show Kalos that she was serious, that she could win a Contest and mark herself as a coordinator as well as a performer. The Lagoon Town Contest would be hers; Serena swore that as Monsieur Pierre opened the Contest.


Serena was the first of the two high ranked performers up and she had left for her starting position after the 4th coordinator started as she was 6th up in the appeals. She was ready for this and she knew who was going to be her choice for the appeals. It was the obvious one, but she'd put it off for various reasons. Now though, it was her turn to shine in what she did best, show off her moves and grace.

"Well, the judges liked zat." Pierre was saying and Serena snapped to attention as the coordinator before her bowed to the judges once more before he left, passing her as she waited in the wings. "And now we 'ave our next coordinator and zis one is one zat I know well from my main job. Presenting a performer who is coordinating this year, one who I 'ave given three Princess Keys to and who won last year's Master Class to challenge Aria for ze title of Kalos Queen, from Vaniville Town, it's ze Kalos Princess 'erself, Serena!"

The crowd cheered as Serena walked out waving at them while Pierre introduced her, smiling as he did. She noted that two of the judges were Top Coordinators, Robert and Yuma, along with the Nurse Joy, a first for Serena but she had known that it was going to be two Top Coordinators judging today. That wasn't a problem though, she was still going to show off the way only she could as she pulled a Poke Ball from her waist and reached her starting position.

"Sylveon, let's go!" Serena said tossing the ball and finally using her pretty Eevee evolution in an appeal. "Start us off with Double Team but form row, not a circle with it."

Sylveon mewled and suddenly a series of shadows appeared on either side of her creating a jagged line of Sylveons in the way that Double Team did. This was just the start of the appeal though.

"Now Swift." Serena commanded.

Sylveon just opened her mouth, her copies doing the same, and sent forth the stars of Swift, both real from her mouth and shadows from those of her shadows. The golden stars shot across the stage in a coordinated line that had everyone impressed by the move.

"End that double team and use Fairy Wind." Serena said as the stars reached the end of the stage. "Show of your new type girl."

Sylveon mewled happily as the Double Team ended and the shadows vanished to reveal Sylveon alone. She then opened her mouth and spewed forth the pink mist that was one of the few known fairy type attacks. It filled the stage with the light pink move do all was looking good. It was about to look even better as Serena finished her appeal.

One thing Misty had drilled into her with appeals was to never obscure the Pokémon with a move. The Pokémon was the center point and the moves, as impressive as they could be, had to accent and highlight it so that the move itself did not overshadow it. It was how Misty had failed in an appeal once with her Ambipom and was her biggest piece of advice. Serena was now going to put that to good use, while adding in her own twist to show of Sylveon's true skill.

"Protect." Serena said and instantly Sylveon glowed with a shimmering barrier around her. "And run into the mist. Dance Sylveon, dance like you love to do."

Sylveon didn't need to be told twice. Long ago she'd had stage freight and was insecure about her showing off her passion. However, Serena had showed her that she didn't need to be afraid, that she was good, and that people would love watching her. That was what she did now as she leapt into the Fairy Wind, an idea born from watching Ash send Kenny's Breloom into its own Stun Spore and began her routine.

The Protect not only avoided injury but as it defected the attack and drew all eyes to Sylveon as she danced. It really showed off Sylveon to all while she was in the mist and cut a path through it with her dance moves. She'd had to adapt her dancing to her new size and weight after she evolved but she could do that with ease now as she wowed the crowd with a routine worthy of the Master Class as her two moves clashed while highlighting her in the center of the mist.

They'd been working on this for the Coumarine Contest but with the sudden Lagoon Town Contest and how it was a little less high pressure for Serena due to the lack of favorites, she'd decided to go with it for this Contest as a test run. It worked as planned and Sylveon flipped high, using her ribbons to aid her, and spun gracefully in the air as the last of the mist faded and she landed perfectly on the ground facing the judges while the last lights of her Protect faded away from her.

With the appeal over, Serena turned to the judges and in time with Sylveon, she curtsied while Sylveon gave a graceful bow that Espeon and Glaceon had helped drill into her back when they were still around. With that the appeal was over and the crowd burst into applause at it.

"Well, zat was certainly something else but zat is what we 'ave come to expect from ze performers on ze circuit zis year." Pierre said enthusiastically as Sylveon returned to Serena and held her hand with one of her ribbons, showing off their bond in the process. "Do the judges agree zo?"

"Serena showed us the bond that a performer and not a coordinator has with their Pokémon through Sylveon's graceful moves." Robert said with a nod of approval. "And how it transitions well to a Contest setting in a new way that one wouldn't see outside of Kalos. Well done."

"This is the first I have seen of Serena this year, but she is living up to her billing as a great performer making a successful transition to coordinator." Yuma agreed. "And showing that coordinators can come from all kinds of backgrounds and excel."

"Sylveon was beautiful and adorable at the same time." Nurse Joy said with a smile. "Just as I would expect from a Pokémon like that. She has clearly been raised with a lot of love and shows her own love for her trainer as well."

Serena just smiled at the judges and curtsied to them again before recalling Sylveon and leaving the stage. She was sure that she had done enough to advance and with only 17 coordinators in the Contest she was in a good place. However, she still had to watch the others, especially Shauna who was 8th up so the one after the one about to go, just to be sure. As such, Serena hurried back to the waiting room to wait and watch her friend in a Contest for the first time.


Shauna hadn't been able to see Serena's appeal as she had to get into position as she was going shortly after her friend and rival. However, she heard the applause even from where she was in the bowls of the Showcase hall that was being used for the Contest and smiled. Serena had clearly done well and set the standard for her. Who was she to not rise to it as a fellow Master Class finalist.

She didn't see Serena as she made her way to the wings to get ready, there was a different path for coordinators who'd finished compared to those still to go so that they didn't distract each other. As such all Shauna could do was get into position in the wings and watch the coordinator before her go and get into the mindset for her appeal. She knew what she was going to do, it was just a matter of putting it into effect in a way that impressed the judges and allowed her to advance.

"Alright, next up is another lovely lady zat I know from ze Showcases." Monsieur Pierre said as the coordinator before her left and Shauna focused on her upcoming appeal. "Like Serena, she's a talented performer with 3 Princess Keys who just lost to Serena in ze Master Class final last year. Now she's coordinating to show off what ze performers of Kalos have to offer Contests. Also, from Vaniville Town, give it up for Shauna!"

Shauna smiled as she walked out, Poke Ball in hand, to the cheering crowd. She ignored them though as she made her way to the starting spot and got into the zone. She knew what she had to do, her Pokémon knew what she had to do, it was time to show it off.

"Floette, let's perform." Shauna said tossing out her Poke Ball.

The ball burst open and Flabébé's evolved from materialized before Shauna, floating at head height so that it's small stature could be seen while she held her orange flower and smiled to the crowd. Flabébé had evolved shortly after the Master Class and Shauna fully intended to show off what her newly classified fairy type could do.

"Start us off with a Misty Terrain." Shauna said. "And fly above it."

Floette nodded as she flew up and across the stage to the other side, the misty covering the ground just behind her as she flew to the other side of the stage covering it in a layer of mist that look great in the lights of the Showcase all. All the time Floette made sure to stay both ahead and above the mist so that she was always visible. In no time she was at the other side of the battlefield still smiling and turned to face Shauna, mist underneath and between them.

"Now return but release Fairy Wind as you do." Shauna said.

"Floette." Floette cried cheerfully as she flew back, the pink mist of Fairy Wind streaming from her as she did.

This was all part of Shauna's plan. The Fairy Wind was heavier that the mist created by Misty Terrain but still lighter than air, so it fell down and into the mist already covering the stage. They mixed together as the former wasn't an offensive attack and formed a really pretty light pink mist that looked more solid than normal mist but less solid then Fairy Wind normally looked. It had worked just as they had planned, and Shauna was about to send it everywhere.

"Now to the middle." Shauna commanded. "And disperse everything with Petal Blizzard."

Floette had just reached Shauna and Fairy Wind had ended a second before. Rather than stop, she arched upwards in a graceful backflip as she slowly spun and flew back to the middle of the battlefield and well above the mixed moves below her. There she cried her attack cry and suddenly a swirling blizzard of pink petal filled the stage.

The petals blew the mixed mist up and all around them, fluttering Shauna's dress in the process, and into the stunned crowd while washing over the judges as well. All the while Floette was in the center of the maelstrom of flowers smiling, her orange flower a beacon in the pink making sure that she was visible for all to see.

"Finish this with Moonblast." Shauna cried raising an open hand before bringing it down as she spoke. "Bring it down upon the petals!"

"Floette!" Floette cried over the attack as the lights above her dimmed with the Moonblast.

It still hadn't been determined if Moonblast was a fairy type attack like the 4 other confirmed ones but there were some indications out of Laverre, the closest the world had to a fairy type research location, that it was one of the moves that had switched from normal to fairy type. For Shauna's purpose she didn't care as the blast of moon power came down upon the petals as she just needed it to work as planned, she didn't care what type the move was at the moment.

As soon as the attacks combined they exploded in a series of fireworks on stage. As this was happening, Floette was flying within them for all to see thanks to how she'd been coordinated to show off herself with her moves.

In short order the pyrotechnics ended though and Shauna and Floette turned to the judges. She then curtsied as Floette bobbed a bow in midair as best she could before flying back to her and awaiting the judges' remarks.

"Zat is what I would expect from a performer, I almost expected Shauna to dance with Floette zo she is not allowed." Pierre said enthusiastically now that the appeal was over. "But what do our esteemed judges zink."

"It was certainly flashy and graceful, something I've come to expect from the Kalos coordinators with a performing background." Robert said with a nod. "But as with the other great performers on the circuit this year, Shauna has taken it to a new level showing us how the two disciplines cross over between Contest appeals and freestyle performances."

"Yes I agree." Yuma added. "That was certainly what I have seen from the Kalos natives though the use of a small and cute Pokémon like Floette, without obscuring her and allowing her to shine alone with her impressive moves, is what really shows Shauna's skills today as that is hard to do."

"Floette is so adorable and yet shows that size doesn't matter when it comes to moves." Nurse Joy said with a smile. "She has clearly been raised well and her flower is perfect."

Shauna just kept a polite smile on her face as she curtsied again before returning Floette and heading back to the waiting room, ignoring Pierre's words as she left the stage. It was time to return to watch the remaining coordinators with Serena and hope that both of them advanced. Shauna had little doubt that they wouldn't advance, but she was still nervous about it regardless. It was in the hands of fate though and all she could do was wait.


"And zat is it for ze appeals." Pierre said as the final coordinator finished and left the stage while the judges began to talk amongst themselves to finalize those who would advance. "Zank you all for zose impressive and beautiful appeals. We will 'ave ze coordinators who 'ave advanced ready for you in a moment."

Serena and Shauna stood next to each other in tense anticipation in the waiting room as they waited for the top 8 to be announced. After her appeal, Serena had made it back in time to see the end of the coordinator who followed her, so she was able to watch Shauna's appeal.

It was by far the best she'd seen all day, other than her own of course, and she told Shauna as much when she returned to the waiting room. Still, all they could do now was wait and watch the other appeals to see who had advanced.

It was a tense period and neither girl spoke much as they watched the appeals. Serena was confident they had advanced as only one was as good as hers and Shauna's she felt but with judging anything could happen as the moment of truth was now upon them.

"Ze judging is in and we 'ave our 8 advancers." Pierre said as the screen in the waiting room showed 8 coordinator cards flipped over ready for the reveal. "Congratulations to zese 8 and all who 'ave shown up today. Ze battles will begin in 'alf an 'our."

With that the pictures flipped over and then fell down into the bracket so that all happened in one go for once. Instantly Serena and Shauna looked for their pictures and quickly breathed a joint sigh of relief as they found them. Serena was in the 2nd battle and Shauna the 3rd meaning that they'd face off in the finals if they won out. That was just how Serena wanted it to be.

"Are your friends going to come for the intermission?" Shauna asked as the coordinators who had failed left with mixed reactions leaving the 8 advancers alone in the room.

"No, the shape of the stage is different from a regular Contest Hall." Serena said, it was the truth as they were in a Showcase hall, so the layout was a little different to a normal Contest. "They don't know how it will be set up so are going to wait and just watch."

"I see that makes sense." Shauna said. "Shame as I was looking forward to meeting Ash and Misty, but I understand why they can't come visit right now."

"What about Trevor and Tierno?" Serena asked recalling Shauna's other two childhood friends and occasional companions on the road. "Are they here supporting you?"

"Alas no." Shauna said shaking her head. "Tierno is competing in Contests this year as training to reenter the Lumiose Conference for a second go at it while seeing how his fluid dancing style transitions to Contest battles. Trevor, meanwhile, is off doing his own photography project and training for a second crack at Lumiose as well, though I hear that this year the Conference may be the biggest it's ever been."

"Well, they will have to face Ash then as he's going for the Lumiose Conference as well." Serena said. "Though it is good that you are still in contact with them."

"Yeah, we meet up from time to time but not that often." Shauna said. "Kinda like how we did it last year in fact. We all have different pursuits and passions, so it is easier this way, even with Tierno doing Contests as well."

"That does makes sense though." Serena said with a nod understanding that they were still close but had their own crisscrossing paths. "I bet Tierno's style works well for him. It is just what you want in a Contest battle and he's already skilled in normal battles so it's almost as if Contest battles are made for him."

"Oh, it does, he already has one ribbon from the two Contests he's entered." Shauna confirmed. "His problem is the appeals, he failed at that stage in the other Contest. He puts too much on the Pokémon's dancing and not its moves I think which hurts him in the appeals. If he can get through then his battle experience gives him the edge there but he needs to advance."

"I can see that." Serena said with a nod. "He'd do well in battles but not appeals. If he can get the former down then he could be one of the best this year and give Kalos a home region hero to support."

"Yeah he's basically the opposite of me." Shauna said. "But we both know enough of the other to get by. I'm just glad we won't meet until the final today, that is where I want to beat you. Call it payback for the Master Class."

"Bring it." Serena said with a smile. "It will be an honor to win my first ribbon from you just as you claimed your first Princess Key in our first Showcase together."

The two girls kept a light chat about their past adventures together for the rest of the break as they got ready for the battles to come. It was good to catch up and Serena was glad that Shauna had shown up to compete in the Contest, it made it more fun for her to have a rival to compete with. That and catching up with Shauna for the first time since the cleanup of the incident right before Serena's brief trip to Kanto for the Grand Festival there was nice and needed.

However, that came to an end when the buzzer to signal 5 minutes before the first battle went off and they had to properly get ready for the battles to come. Serena was first up and waited until the Pierre began to introduce the first two coordinators, both not Kalos natives before she left to take her spot for her first battle of the afternoon.

She needed to be ready and plan not just for this battle but for the later ones as well should she advance. While she wasn't certain who Shauna would use in the battles, her gut told her which Pokémon Shauna would most likely save for the final and as such Serena planned for that accordingly. Regardless, her choice for the final had a new move and was more than capable for that battle whoever Serena faced in it.

The battles themselves were pretty straightforward, and Serena fell into a near trance with them. Both May and Misty had explained the sensation to her though neither understood it themselves other than that it was a sign that Serena had found comfort in the battles and their style.

It also meant that Serena could advance easily as the battles became second nature to her. Again, the other girls had explained that memories from many of their non-finals' matches eluded them, only finals and the ones against notable rivals stuck out when they thought back on their days on the circuit.

That was what it was like for Serena today. Her first matchup was against a fellow Kalos coordinator, a male who clearly loved performing but was banned from doing so because of his sex. That was one thing Serena was never comfortable with when it came to Showcases. Their ban on men was outright sexist and should change if they were serious about equality but alas she didn't control the Showcase Committee. As such the guy put that passion into coordinating.

Serena had to admit, he'd have made a good performer if he could compete there. He worked well with his Pokémon, a Simipour, but he was too heavy on the pageantry of the battle and not the battle itself which was not good as you had to blend style with the battles in a Contest battle.

Despite a type advantage over Serena's Rhyhorn, he was more focused on making his moves look pretty and dodging than actually attacking her. That was why Serena was able to coordinate Rhyhorn into an opening and unleashing a Thunder, her counter to water types, to land a devastating blow at the end, taking a huge chunk of points and winning the battle on points in the end.

Serena bowed to him and left hoping that one day he got the chance to perform in a Showcase before smiling at Shauna in the wings and hurrying back to support her friend. Shauna had a better time than she did in a matchup against an Unovan trainer using an Axew against her Swirlix. A dragon verses a fairy was not a fair matchup and required skill to win, a skill the Unovan didn't have.

Shauna for her part showed that she clearly knew how to handle a fairy type almost as well as Emily did and won by Battle Off with 2 minutes to spare. Then again, when her opponent had 3 dragon type moves and a dark type move it wasn't a fair matchup, so Serena felt that Shauna ended it early to avoid embarrassing her opponent in a drawn-out match.

Still, things were looking good for both of them, and that continued into the semis as Serena headed out to face a coordinator from Johto with two ribbons in her home region and one in Kalos. She was clearly a threat who was going for a hybrid approach to qualify but this time it was Serena who got the upper hand in the battle even though she was using Pancham against her opponent's Pumpkaboo.

Ordinarily that wasn't a matchup that would on paper favor Serena as Pancham was a fighting type against a part ghost type in Pumpkaboo. However, he only knew one fighting type move and Serena surprised her opponent by using it to her advantage in the battle.

She recalled how Misty had beaten Ash in the Wallace Cup last year, May told her of that matchup in great detail when she returned, mainly how Misty had used Ash's Gengar's immunity to normal type moves against him. That was what Serena used this time only with a fighting type move and not a normal type one.

She started her semifinal with an Arm Thrust, Pancham's fighting type attack, and all her opponent did was laugh at its ineffectiveness. Ineffective was what Serena was going for, however. As much as she disliked Brianna, she couldn't deny that the girl was a skilled coordinator and her opening attack against Emily was what Serena copied now. With two examples of this strategy, Serena knew that it was one that would give her an advantage.

She used the clear miss to get in close and before her opponent could react, she hit Pumpkaboo with a Stone Edge to keep it in place. Pancham then flipped back and hit with Dark Pulse, a super effective attack, to complete the combo and open the battle strong for Serena.

From then on the battle was Serena's and she controlled the tempo of it until the very end. She'd thrown her opponent off and the Johto girl didn't have anything that was strong against Pancham. Add it Pancham's performance training and Serena kept the battle going until the end with hit and run tactics, her opening combo giving her a lead that she never relinquished.

With a second win on points, Serena went to the wings to wait and watch Shauna who was stationed on the other side so that she could see how her semifinal went. It was more tense than Serena's and pretty back and forth as Shauna's Gothorita battled a guy from Hoenn's Nosepass.

It was an even fight with neither side have a type advantage with Pokémon nor it seemed with the moves their Pokémon knew. It came down to skill and luck, the latter of which ended up being on Shauna's side when she landed a Confusion with 5 seconds remaining to just win on points thanks to getting the final hit in.

Shauna stayed out as her opponent left and Serena waited until he was gone before heading out to face her friend in battle for the first time. It was their final just like the Master Class had been only this time the winner would win her first ribbon. Serena intended for it to be her who won.

"I'm glad you made it this far." Serena said pulling out her Poke Ball and glad that her best shot at her first ribbon would be with this Pokémon, if any deserved to be the one to aid her in winning her first Contest it was her. "I couldn't think of a better person to win my first ribbon from or a better place as Lagoon Town, the town where I fell for Showcases thanks to you."

"And I can't think of a better way to avenge my loss in the Master Class to you than in a Contest as you go for that first ribbon, while claiming my own first one in return." Shauna said with a grin taking out a Poke Ball of her own. "Show me how good those teachers of yours are Serena. We all know who you are traveling with, it marks you out as someone with an advantage so someone who needs taking down a peg or two."

"I intend to." Serena said seriously knowing full well the target she had thanks to traveling with not one but two Top Coordinators and learning from both of them. "I've failed to live up to their teachings so far, not anymore. Today I will truly honor them and all that they have done for me."

"Not if I stop you." Shauna said. "So, let's finally battle Serena, I've been looking forward to this since we met if I'm being honest. Performers don't battle, let's see who's stronger in this aspect of Pokémon training."

"Zat is the ze spirit ladies." Pierre said interrupting them and getting the final started sounding enthusiastic for the final, one that the crowd shared. "Well folks, we 'ave a final worthy of Kalos 'erself. Two outstanding performers, both prides of Kalos and Vaniville Town where they 'ail from and both Master Class finalists who last faced off for the right to dethrone Aria as Kalos Queen. On one side, looking to avenge that loss we 'ave Shauna. On the other, looking to repeat what she did in the Master Class, we 'ave Serena. Ladies, begin!"

With that shorter than expected into the clock started and both performers sent out their starters to battle for the Lagoon Town Ribbon. Serena smiled the moment she heard Shauna's choice a split second before announcing her own Pokémon.

"Ivysaur, let's perform." Shauna said as she threw her Poke Ball.

"Braixen, let's go." Serena called out pleased her prediction had been right and starting off with a clear advantage.

"Type means nothing in a Contest battle if I have style and maneuverability on my side." Shauna said. "Ivysaur, Razor Leaf."

"Burn that with Flamethrower Braixen." Serena countered knowing that on the maneuverability front at least her Braixen had the edge on Shauna's Ivysaur simply due to body type. "Type may be on our side, but we will win by skill alone girl."

Braixen nodded seriously as she twirled her stick and channeled her flames through it, sending out a gout of flames from the end right after Ivysaur had sent out several sharp, fast moving, leaves at her. The flames incinerated the leaves and carried on to Ivysaur's location, Serena grinning the entire time until the flames cleared, and she was left stunned by the scorched patch of ground and no Ivysaur.

"You think I'll just stand still, that was a distraction Serena." Shauna said grinning right back at her. "Ivysaur, Vine Whip."

Before Serena or Braixen could react, Ivysaur had its vines out and lashed them at Braixen. It had used the flames to cover its move forward and to the side so that it was slightly closer to Braixen thus increasing its chances of landing a hit. She didn't have the time to dodge before they lashed her across the face causing Serena to lose some points, but Braixen's type negated the damage and Serena was already on the counter attack.

"Fire Blast." Serena called. "And follow it with Scratch. Keep an eye on the Ivysaur in case it moves and avoid anything it sends at you while you land at least one of those moves. I know you can do it Braixen."

"Braixen." Braixen said as she pointed her stick at Ivysaur and blasted the 5-pointed star of Fire Blast at it as the vines were returning to it.

"Dodge and use Energy Ball." Shauna ordered.

Ivysaur just managed to get its vines back in time and leap to the side to avoid most of the attack, but the bottom right point of the star hit its side causing it to wail in pain and roll over from the glancing blow. Still Ivysaur was in it and rolled before getting up and sending a ball of grass type energy out of its mouth and at Braixen.

Braixen for her part had followed the attack at a steady pace the way she'd seen other of her friends do with these kind of combos, mainly how the Furfrou she knew used Surf as a cover, all the while tracking her opponent with her eyes. She saw Ivysaur dodge her attack for the most part and get the attack off, but she was already anticipating an attack and ready for it.

With a graceful spin, Braixen avoided the Energy Ball and tossed her stick to her left paw. She then extended the claws on her right and as she finished her spin she raked them across Ivysaur's face having used the spin to close the final distance to it and add momentum to her Scratch.

Ivysaur roared in pain and recoiled putting some distance between it and Braixen. Serena saw this and instantly pressed her advantage the way she knew that Ash would and revealed Braixen's new move at the same time.

"Psybeam!" Serena yelled.

"Damn." Was all Shauna could said as Braixen brought her stick to bear, still held in her off hand but the distance between them made up for her diminished accuracy with her weaker hand. "That's not good."

Before Ivysaur could react, Braixen fired a peculiar beam from the end of the stick and hit the recovering Ivysaur in the neck. She'd learned the move by herself after noticing Espeon use it, though she hadn't perfected it until recently, and was glad to have a psychic type move at her disposal.

What she nor Serena were expecting was the effect of the attack. Ivysaur wailed in pain as it was thrown back and rolled across the battlefield clearly badly affected by the move. It was near the end of its ropes and Serena was going to keep up the pressure she had until it was over. Still, she was unclear why Psybeam had worked so well.

"Solar Beam." Shauna called out and Serena heard the desperation in her voice as Ivysaur began to absorb the light for that attack.

"I'm sorry Shauna but I have to do this." Serena said knowing it was her best bet even if it was going to hurt but the opening was too good to pass up. "Flamethrower Braixen, finish it quick."

"Braixen." Braixen said with a somber nod, she understood that this was her order because of what she knew and the opponent's move, not for cruelty but she still hated having to do it and would make it up to the Ivysaur as she knew it well from the year before.

Braixen twirled her stick and tossed it to her right paw. She then leveled it at Ivysaur and unleashed a gout of flames from the end of it. Ivysaur lent forward as the Solar Beam finished charging and shot the powerful grass type attack out just before the flames reached it. Alas it was not enough, and the fire type attack overwhelmed the grass type one before the flames washed over Ivysaur and pushing it well past its limits and it collapsed to the ground and ending the Solar Beam before it could get very far.

As the flames passed the sight was revealed. Ivysaur was flat on its stomach, legs splayed and eyes swirls, its body battered from the series of attacks that had landed. Instantly the Xs went off and the crowd cheered. Serena just stared in open jawed amazement. She'd won her first Contest on her third try and done so with a minute and change to spare in the final.

"And with zat, Serena has won by Battle Off." Pierre declared as Shauna recalled Ivysaur.

"You did great old friend." Shauna said smiling at the Poke Ball in her hand. "We were severely disadvantaged from the start and three super effective attacks were more than enough for you to handle. We will get stronger, I promise."

"Wait 3?" Serena asked as she walked out and onto the battlefield, patting Braixen on the head for a job well done before returning her starter and making her way to the center of the battlefield to meet up with Shauna and conclude the Contest properly. "Psybeam was super effective?"

"Well yeah, Ivysaur is a poison type as well as a grass type so psychic attacks are super effective against it making Braixen a really bad matchup for Ivysaur." Shauna said heading out to meet Serena. "Didn't you know?"

"No, I always thought that it was just the grass type starter from Kanto, well its evolved form at least." Serena said shaking her head. "And you never used a poison type move with it before as far as I can recall."

"Well, he doesn't know any but I think I will need to change that for the coming year as poison type moves are the best against fairy types and work great as status attacks in prolonged battles, or for quick points in a Contest." Shauna said as she reached the center where Serena was waiting and held out her hand to her friend. "But regardless, that was a good battle Serena. Well done, looks like you won again."

"I had a big advantage, and you did well yourself Shauna." Serena said taking Shauna's hand and shaking it formally the way two rivals should after a final. "just because this time the cards fell on my side doesn't meant that they always will."

"True though battles aren't my focus, the appeals are." Shauna said as they broke apart. "Enjoy your first ribbon and make it to the Grand Festival Serena, I'm rooting for you to go far in it just like you did in the Master Class."

"Thank you." Serena said with a smile as Shauna turned and walked off so that Serena could celebrate her win alone.

Serena did just that as she turned and waited for Robert to approach with the Lagoon Town ribbon. The ribbon itself was the same design as the other ribbons Serena had seen, Kalos was going for a uniform design with their ribbons to keep things simple and differentiate them from the other regions' ribbons, with the seal of the town in the center in gold.

The only thing different was the color of the ribbon itself. The Lagoon Town ribbon was a clear blue, the color you'd expect from a, well, lagoon. However, for the first time it had a second color as the ribbon was bordered with bright gold edging that Serena knew was a reference to the Princess Key the Showcase winner got in the town's annual Showcase.

Robert came out with the ribbon in a tray as Serena waited patiently in the center of the stage. Apparently he was the more senior of the two judges and as such would be giving it, or he and Yuma had flipped a coin and determined that he'd do it for all she knew. Whatever the case, Serena was just eager to final win a ribbon.

"Serena, here is your first ribbon." Robert said holding the tray out to her. "I hope you keep it up, I look forward to seeing you reach the Grand Festival and helping improve the way Contests are conducted with your performance style."

"Thank you, I will do my best." Serena said with a slight bow before she took the ribbon and couldn't resist the victory pose that May and Misty had taught her. "Alright, I won the Lagoon Town Ribbon."

"Braixen." Braixen said happily as she leapt into the air to pose with her trainer and friend deciding to break out of her Poke Ball for the moment.

Serena just smiled as she pulled her arm down and looked at the ribbon in her hands, her first of the year. She had a case for them and couldn't wait to see how it looked in it when she added it later before they all celebrated back at the Pokémon Center, and she introduced Shauna to Ash and Misty at last. However, for now she was enjoying her win in the moment and let it all wash over her as everything, but the win fell to the background.

This was but the first of what Serena knew would be at least 3 ribbons she was aiming for this year. Now that she had won she knew she had to get two more and make the wildcard at the very least. She was going to go the Grand Festival and prove that she was worthy of being May's protégé. This was just the first step, the next would be in Coumarine City and Serena intended to go two for two.