Part CLXXIV: Contest to Decide the Path

"Serena!" A very familiar voice called out from behind her. "I was hoping you'd be here for this Contest, now we can even things up before the Grand Festival!"

Serena turned in the waiting room of the Aquacorde Contest to see Miette striding towards her through the crowd of about 25 coordinators who'd gathered for this Contest. Serena couldn't help but smile at her friend and rival glad that there would be some competition for her as she went for her 4th Ribbon.

As always Miette looked great and had gone with blue, her favorite color and one she always rocked. This time the girl was wearing a knee length royal blue, sleeveless dress with a little flair to the skirt part, a white underskirt and matching belt, shoes and white bands on her biceps to complete the simple look. As always Miette had her hair held back by her headband and wore a white choker with a blue stone set into it to complete the look though Serena was sure it was the same choker as what she'd worn in the Wallace Cup, but it still looked good on her.

At least at first glance that was what it looked like but as Serena looked she did a double take because Miette was waving her right hand at her as she approached. As expected, Miette wasn't wearing gloves, a fashion statement that was uncommon in Kalos and especially so in a native of the region, but it was part of her look, so that wasn't what got Serena.

No, what got her was that Miette was wearing a new bracelet on her right wrist. It was a silver charm bracelet with a few silver charms on it, notably a Pikachu and a Slurpuff one, though Serena did notice Fennekin and Bulbasaur charms as well, and a single dangling charm resting against Miette's wrist.

That dangling charm was a special holder with a glowing, almost transparent, stone inside it. At once Serena knew what it was, Ash and May had one each as well, and she couldn't help but let her eyes go wide at the Key Stone that Miette had acquired since the Wallace Cup.

"Miette, as always, good to see you." Serena said recovering but not before Miette noticed as she approached, and as they locked eyes their friendly and heated rivalry naturally ignited. "You seem to have been busy since the Wallace Cup. You even got a Key Stone, how?"

"It was found by complete accident by one of my Pokémon who was foraging for berries to snack on at the time." Miette said shaking her wrist to accentuate the Key Stone. "He evolved right afterwards and is now a Mega Evolution capable Pokémon who I intend on using in the appeal. Alas, I lack the necessary Mega Stone, but I found this bracelet in Santalune as I was passing through and got the special charm made for it so that it was always on me."

"I look forward to seeing your appeal." Serena said and she meant it as it would be a completely new Pokémon to her as the three Pokémon that Serena knew Miette had couldn't Mega Evolve. "My own will be different as well."

"I expect no less from you, nice dress by the way." Miette complemented looking her rival's outfit up and down and shifting the topic to their fashion choices for the Contest. "Not a color scheme you usually go for, but it suits you. As always your style is impeccable Serena though you still can't pull off blue like I can."

"Only Misty and maybe Dawn can match you for blue Miette and I can't take all the credit for this outfit." Serena said looking down at the black and yellow dress Elesa had given her back during that strange adventure in Laverre that she was currently wearing complete with all the accessories that had come with it including the heels that she was still getting used to. "It was a gift from a rather eccentric woman and yes she insisted on the push up bra to assist me in filling it out."

"I was going to say they look more noticeable than normal." Miette said with a grin as she briefly glanced at Serena's assets that were more accentuated than usual. "Trying to show off for Ash or at least show Misty that yours are bigger."

"Miette!" Serena squawked going red as Miette laughed at the reaction that she could still get out of Serena. "I'll have you know that I am already bigger than Misty's, I checked when we went shopping for one of her Showcase outfits not that that matters, and besides we're all inferior to May."

"True that girl has some serious assets." Miette said with a sigh as she looked down at her own modest bust that was at best the same size as Serena's though she'd never confirmed it. "Nature was kind to her. Still, what's the story behind the dress? It looks like it's in the Kalos style but it's not quite right, like it's been done by a talented designer imitating the style while keeping her own elements to it thus creating something new in the process."

"The signature of the designer is in the earrings." Serena said raising her hand to one of her ears and turning her head to show the positive and negative symbols dangling from her ears to Miette. "Elesa, the Nimbasa City Gym Leader out in Unova, is a fashion designer and model as well and as talented as Valerie is. She showed up the same time we did to challenge Valerie to a fashionista showdown and as she knows Ash from his time in Unova we got roped into it as her runway models."

"Of course she'd know Ash, no wonder you got involved." Miette said. "And I take it between those symbols and the color scheme that she's an electric specialist."

"Yup, big fan of Pikachu's actually." Serena said with a nod. "And so, Misty, May, and I got roped into a fashion show to show off some of Elesa's styles and this is what she did for me as I was the Kalos native, so she put me in her own twist on our traditional style. She said I could keep it and the accessories, and they did suit me, so I kept them. I swore I'd honor her gift by wearing it in a Contest, but I couldn't until now as the others either had set dress codes because of Valerie or the Wallace Cup which I wanted to honor differently."

"I see well it does look great on you." Miette said with a nod. "Course I'll still win this and best you at last."

"This ribbon is mine." Serena said grinning at Miette as she rose to her rival's challenge. "I need it to push me to avoid the Wildcard."

"And I need it to ensure I avoid it." Miette said grinning and slowly that hit Serena as her eyes widened in surprise and the grin vanished from her face. "Yup, I've got 4 ribbons now."

"What?" Serena asked. "How?"

"Basically, just focused on getting them after the Wallace Cup." Miette said with a shrug. "While you were off in Gloire again watching Misty do well, which she did and I voted for her all the way through as she was great in the Master Class, it was a shame that she didn't win it and challenge Aria, I was focusing on my Contests. Well other than a brief chat with an odd woman from Kanto who overheard my thoughts on Ash."

"Sabi is certainly unique." Serena said using Sabrina's nickname she liked to use when she traveled to avoid being identified as the Saffron Gym Leader even if that would be unlike in rural Kalos. "I'm seeing her after the Contest actually for a second meeting to discuss some things as I'll have a clearer picture on my path for the rest of the year after today. She mentioned finding you by accident. Fate must have made it so that you crossed paths."

"It certainly seemed that way and while it was odd at first it was a good talk in the end, something I didn't realize that I needed until it happened." Miette admitted. "She was really helpful, and I know what my plans are next year if I don't win the Grand Festival here."

"She is like that." Serena said. "And it doesn't surprise me that you're already set there, your confidence was always your strongest attribute so all it would take is one good chat for Sabrina to help you out. I need at least one more to determine where to go from here"

"Don't you know it." Miette said striking one of her confident poses. "But yeah other than that chat and watching the Master Class I've been focusing on competing in Contests and perfecting my style. I actually have you to thank for my success as I won 2 of the 3 I've entered with the loss being to Shauna who has decided to just go for the Wildcard route after she got her 3rd ribbon against me."

"Shauna was always less about them than we were but it's good that she'll be there." Serena said thinking on the three of them and how Shauna was the better appealer, Miette more inclined to battle, and Serena all around but overall she had been the best so far. "But how did I help you?"

"I watched your matches closely after I was knocked out by that bitch in the Wallace Cup." Miette said her anger clear and understandable after how Amelia had behaved in the Wallace Cup. "Amelia showed me that there is talent for a performer in a Contest battle and her sharpness is closer to my own though at least I don't add the venom that she does. However, it was your battles with Tierno and Amelia that really got to me. I saw how a truly talented performer, and right now you're still the second best in the region as far as I'm concerned as Jessilee wouldn't have beaten your performance last year, could battle in a Contest and it inspired me."

"Oh, um, thanks." Serena said blushing a little as Miette could be complementary and kind in her own way despite their heated rivalry. "It all kinda just came to me in the Wallace Cup when I had to face Tierno and realized that I needed to be more evasive against him given his battle prowess. As such, I applied more Freestyle elements to my battle with him and it all came together when needed. After that it was just improving on it against Amelia and knowing when to use timing against Ash in the final."

"Clearly, only a performer who can make the Master Class final could have pulled off that Horn Drill to win it and against our mutual unrequited crush as well." Miette said. "Course that just means that I have to best you at that style as I'm more suited to battles than you are, and this is a great time for it. I lost our matchup in Coumarine, I'm not going to lose this one."

"Not on your life." Serena said smiling at Miette. "This is mine, I've been focused since the Master Class on it and can't lose. I won the Wallace Cup against the odds; I'll win this as well."

"We shall see." Miette said smiling back. "But I look forward to seeing all that practice you've had, should be a good battle."

Serena just nodded as at that moment there was a sound and all the coordinators turned to the TV to see Jillian walking out to the Aquacorde Contest Hall's stage to open the Contest and introduce the judges. Today it seemed that Sukizo was present with the Nurse Joy but no Mr. Contesta and instead a woman who Serena knew as Yuma was in his spot as the head judge.

That didn't bother Serena as she got into the zone, as did Miette, and focused on all the training she'd had since the Wallace Cup. Sure, they'd had Ash's battles with Wulfric and the Master Class but around that Serena had been focused on preparing for this Contest. Hell, most of the uneventful journey from Gloire City had been practice for Serena, other than their trip to the Chamber of Emptiness for Misty's Mega Stone and Ash's battle with Alain as that was happening.

Other than that, and Misty still refused to discuss her experience there, their trip to Aquacorde had been uneventful. Serena had even been able to set up her second meeting with Sabrina as they traveled, and she'd told her mother she'd be in Aquacorde, so her mother was coming to it watch it as well seeing as Aquacorde was so close to Vaniville Town. It would be nice to see her, and Serena was looking forward to that.

All that would come in time however as she turned to leave, getting a good luck from Miette, as Serena was second up for the Contest, so she had to be in place for when her appeal slot came. She was going to win this Contest and be one step closer to the Grand Festival she knew it.


"Next up we have a special treat for you." Jillian said and Serena set herself as the first coordinator left shaking her head showing disappointment in her appeal as Serena fully got in the zone. "She's one of the best performers in Kalos, though no longer the Master Class winner as this year's addition has just happened with Jessilee winning it, but she is the newest winner of the Wallace Cup, as well as the first winner of the Misty Ribbon, which was her third ribbon. Now she seeks her 4th to further close in on the Grand Festival without the need to try and qualify via the Wildcard. Give it up for the Kalos Princess and almost a hometown girl as she hails from Vaniville Town right to the south, it's Serena!"

Serena just smiled and waved to the crowd as she walked out to their cheering, her walk slightly slower than usual thanks to her heels. Ever since her win in the Wallace Cup she'd become even more of a home region favorite than before. She embraced it a little but as she reached her starting point she tuned it out and pulled out her Poke Ball. It was time for her latest appeal and one that would surprise a few people as it wouldn't be with an expected Pokémon.

"Rhydon, let's go!" Serena said tossing her Poke Ball high in the air. "Start us off with Rock Blast!"

Rhydon let out a roar as he burst from his Poke Ball, tilted his head back and sent of the rock type attack as soon as he landed on the stage in front of Serena. With Rock Blast it was uncertain how many boulders would be thrown at any given move but Serena and Rhydon had worked hard to perfect this with however many he tossed at a given time and in this instance 3 boulders were throw high into the air and arching away from Rhydon. As soon as it was over Serena was already calling the next move of the appeal.

"Now use Thunder." Serena commanded. "Aim for the middle boulder."

Rhydon let out another roar as he lowered his head and the electricity formed at the point of his horn. Then he bellowed as he unleashed the electric type attack on a low trajectory and at the still airborne boulders.

The were two reasons for why Serena was aiming for the middle boulder. The first, and to her important one, was the fact that the middle would look the best if hit as it would be the most symmetrical way to pull off the combo, but it was the second reason that was the practical one. That was because Thunder wasn't the most accurate of moves. Not the most inaccurate one Rhydon knew but still it could miss so going for the middle one was prudent to give some leeway though by calling it out Serena had set the standard high in the eyes of the judges.

Thankfully Rhydon's aim was true, and the bolt of electricity flew across the stage to slam into the middle boulder, a little off center but it still hit the right one and blew it up with a boom. That caused a chain reaction breaking the other two boulders apart and sending them flying, one straight into the ground where it shatter, and the remains of the other back towards Rhydon to land a few feet from him and break up even more when it hit the ground.

All the time it looked good as it showed off Rhydon's power and precision in one. However, it was just the first course as the main dish was still to come and this one was going to be a lot harder to pull off.

"Rock Blast again." Serena ordered. "Arch it higher though and get under it and await my order."

Rhydon roared in agreement as he tilted his upper body back and created his first boulder. He then tossed it in a high arc that was shallower than before and followed it up with a second boulder. This time it was only two and the moment Rhydon knew it was that he rushed forward, showing surprising grace to leap over the chunks of the boulder that had been sent towards him from his Thunder attack, and got beneath the boulders that had just reached their apex and began to fall towards him as he turned to face Serena, eyes locked on them and horn primed.

This was the crowing jewel of Serena's appeal, the one that showed off her skills and performance background the best as it required precision timing and assessment to get right. She'd done it before when it was first shown in the Wallace Cup final and they'd managed it more often than not in training, which given the inaccuracy of the move said a lot, so it was time to show it off on an appeals stage.

If it worked Serena was sure she'd advance to the battles thanks to the difficulty of it alone, though it would still look really good in the process. If it didn't, well she'd be going home early and have to deal with that, but you didn't reach the next level without risks, May and Misty had taught her that.

"Now!" Serena yelled as she raised her right hand the moment the rocks passed the point in the air she was sure was the right moment for her next attack. "Horn Drill!"

Rhydon bellowed as his horn spun at a fast speed, he dipped his body, and rose up to slam his spinning horn into and through the first boulder as he rose, breaking it apart and ignoring as the rock fragments bounced off his body showing how strong he was. Rhydon continued the move, his head tilting up so that the tip of his horn hit the second boulder and bore into it.

It was slower now as the attack wasn't as smooth and it was a little off center but still showed off what it was meant to, the power of Rhydon's horn, as he bore through the boulder and broke it apart to fall around him. It had worked and Serena grinned as she prepared her grand finale with Rhydon.

"Finish this!" Serena called as she clenched her fist in her raised hand a punched down to the ground as she fell to a knee to slam her own fist into the stage floor as part of the appeal, an affectation that played to her performer roots. "Earthquake!"

Rhydon had mimicked Serena's moves perfectly and slammed his own clenched fist into the ground with a roar at the same time as Serena punched the ground, a little harder than she had planned as she had to suppress a grimace from the impact, and imparted his Earthquake into it. The entire stage shook violently as Rhydon poured all his power into it, reducing the rubble of the boulders to tiny parts and causing the judges to grip their podiums to avoid falling over while Jillian actually did fall over.

Part of why Serena had fallen to a knee was to keep her balance through the move as Rhydon's Earthquake was quite strong. That was why it was the finishing move for her appeal and Serena rode it out grinning before if finally subsided. Only then did she and Rhydon raise together while Jillian began to speak from where she'd fallen down.

"Woah that was a powerful appeal." Jillian said slowly getting to her feet and adjusting herself as the battlefield finally stopped shaking from Rhydon's finishing Earthquake and Serena and he turned to face the judges before she curtsied to them and Rhydon bowed at the same time. "What do our judges think of that?"

"That was certainly a powerful appeal showing off Rhydon's types really well and the timing was very good just as we've come to expect from performers trying their hands at coordinating." Yuma said with a nod of approval. "Well done and your Rhydon looks like it's getting the right food and care for its horn and body, so I commend you on that."

"Yes, simply remarkable." Sukizo said with a wide smile.

"Rhydon looked so tough there but also graceful and powerful at the same time." Nurse Joy said in her usual happy tone. "It really shows how well you've raised it Serena."

Serena just smiled as she recalled Rhydon, curtsied again, and hurried to get back to the waiting room as fast as she could in heels. Miette would be up 4th which meant that she likely saw her appeal and then went to position, so they'd talk afterwards, and she wanted to get back to see her friend's appeal and hope that both of them made it to the next round.


"Next up we have another of the talented performers with plenty of accolades in that arena who is trying her hand at coordinating this year." Jillian said as the third appeal of the day ended and Miette set herself for her own appeal, Poke Ball already in hand. "She's finally found her grove this year and is now one of the better battlers amongst the performers with 2 ribbons in her last 3 Contests and going for that elusive 5th ribbon today to avoid having to try her hand in the Wildcard, give it up for Miette!"

Miette just smiled as she walked out focused on her appeal. She'd seen Serena's and knew that she couldn't let herself down after an appeal like that one. Serena had really shown off with her Rhydon, the Pokémon many saw as her battle ace and not an appeals Pokémon, and now it was Miette's turn to match it and match it she planned on. Plus, she'd do it with her newest evolved Pokémon and one that was of the same line as one of Misty's notable ones, so it would really show Miette's skills.

"Lopunny, time to perform!" Miette said tossing out her Poke Ball. "Start us off with Focus Blast and aim it to the ceiling."

Miette's Lopunny burst from the Poke Ball flipping in the air to land on his feet in a combat stance. Almost as soon as he was standing Lopunny heightened his mental focus and unleashed it as a blast of fighting type power aiming it high into the sky for all to see. Miette grinned as she prepared the next move that would really show off what her Lopunny could do.

"Now, High Jump Kick." Miette ordered. "Kick it down and into the center of the stage!"

To pull this off everything had to be timed and calculated to near perfection, a skill that was common with top tier performers like Miette and Serena. However, a focus on timing was less common with coordinators who focused more on the moves and how they showed off the Pokémon performing them.

This was the style that the performers of Kalos brought to Contests and Miette was showing that on full display in her appeal. As soon as she gave the order, Lopunny let out a call and leapt high into the air, his right leg infusing with fighting type power, as he shot towards the Focus Blast without any fear for the attack that if he messed up and let hit him would be super effective.

That was why the timing had to be just right so that the Focus Blast was slower than the speed Lopunny could achieve on a leap but also reach it's apex around the same time as Lopunny did and have that apex be above the center of the stage. It was only slightly off center in this case as Lopunny reached the Focus Blast and passed it as it reached it's apex. Then, with a flipping twist indicative of Pokémon trained for Showcases, Lopunny brought his leg to bear to slam into the Focus Blast and send it crashing straight down to crater the center area of the stage.

The move also ensured that Lopunny's momentum was halted when he kicked the Focus Blast, and he began to fall towards the ground. As he did he performed a twisting, tucking, and flipping routine while Miette called out the next order for him to employ the moment he landed.

"Now, entertain us with Entertainment." Miette commanded as Lopunny fell.

Lopunny heard and acknowledge it as he came out of his tumble in time to land on his feet and instantly transition into the odd rhythmic dance of Entertainment right in the middle of the damage that he'd caused showing off his grace and strength at the same time. It was certainly an interesting choice as in an appeal Entertainment was solely for its artistic value, it's battle value was to compel its opponent to copy Lopunny's movement and thus allow Lopunny to copy his opponent's ability. Now though it just looked good and allowed Miette to set up her grand finale.

"Focus Blast once more." Miette ordered as Lopunny danced saving her final move for the right moment.

Lopunny just nodded as he heightened his mental focus during his dance so that the moment it ended, which it did as he tilted his body back as this was what they'd trained to maximize the smoothness of the move transition, he was able to blast the Focus Blast up to the ceiling once again. Only after it was released did Miette give her final order to really show how her timing skills.

"Destroy it with Thunderbolt." Miette said.

"Lopunny." Lopunny said as he formed the electricity in his mouth and blasted it up and at the ball of fighting type power that was still rising into the air above him.

The electricity flew true and slammed into the Focus Blast just before it reached its apex and blew it up in a boom that sent sparks flying in pretty arcs all around while flashes of light from the Focus Blast really accentuated the sparks. All of this managed to highlight Lopunny at the center of it as the appeal came to an and Miette and Lopunny turned to face the judges.

"Yet another appeal with the performance flair we've come to expect from performers." Jillian said as the last of the lights and sparks died down from the final combo and Lopunny bowed to the judges while Miette curtsied in time with her Pokémon. "Do our judges agree?"

"That was certainly powerful and flashy, just like a performance only tailored to what is required from a Contest appeal." Yuma said praise in her voice. "And Lopunny has been raised well, to get one you need high friendship and it clear that this one has it with Miette."

"Yes simply remarkable." Sukizo said with a nod.

"Lopunny showed off strength and beauty at the same time." Nurse Joy said with a smile. "And it looked so happy doing so."

"There you have it." Jillian said as Miette curtsied again, Lopunny bowed and then she recalled him and turned to leave the stage. "Next up…"

Miette wasn't focused on that as she made her way to the wings and back to the waiting room. She was sure she'd matched Serena at least but they were early in this, so she'd have to nervously watch the rest of the appeals with her friend to see if they both advanced to the battle round. That would be were things were really decided and with a grin at the though of battling Serena again, Miette hurried back to the waiting room to watch the rest of the appeals in the Aquacorde Contest.


The rest of the Contest appeals went by without incident. Miette and Serena watched them closely and occasionally chatted about them when an appeal caught one of their eyes but for the most part they just focused on them to see how they stacked up. Both girls were confident that they'd done enough to advance to the battles but of course nothing was guaranteed in a Contest, so they watched until the end and then waited nervously as the final appeal ended and Jillian took center stage again.

"Alright the appeals are over, the scores calculated, and now it is time for the announcement of who has advanced to the battle round." Jillian said as she got a nod from Yuma confirming that the top 8 were known and had been advanced. "So, without further ado, here are the 8 coordinators who've advanced to the battle round!"

Both Serena and Miette held their breaths as the image changed to reveal 8 images already flipped over to the coordinator pictures of the 8 who had advanced. They released their breaths at the same time as Serena found her picture at the end of the first row and Miette hers in the middle of the second row. They'd both advanced and now it was time to see the bracket.

"Congratulations to those who have advanced and to those who just missed the cut, we hope to see you again soon." Jillian said as the trainer cards turned over, shuffled, and fell to the bottom of the screen before a bracket appeared above them showing the paths to the Aquacorde Ribbon. "And now the bracket for the battles. Good luck to our remaining coordinators."

At that the images flipped over and after a few seconds the girls found their pictures. They were next to each other however Serena's was 4th and Miette's 5th meaning that they'd only face off if both of them won out and made it to the finals. That was just what they wanted.

"You'd better win Serena." Miette said with a grin as they moved to their own corner while the coordinators who didn't advance left and the ones still in the Contest found their own spots to where they could prepare during the break before the battles. "I can't imagine a better opponent to face for my final ribbon than my rival."

"Likewise, I've won my 3 ribbons this year against notable people, and you are no less than any of them Miette." Serena said with a smile. "I bested Shauna in a rematch of the Master Class final for my first, upset Jessilina for my second, and shocked Ash for my third. I look forward to adding you to that list Miette and completing the Master Class finals rematches as we've never faced off in a Contest final."

"Unless I beat you, but I am honored to be in that company and like you can't wait for this rematch." Miette said. "To beat you, someone who's only lost to members of the Big 3 this year and is the only nonmember to best one of them, it will add to my cred and that's not including the whole Kalos Princess title you have."

"Ash beat all 3 favorites." Serena pointed out. "I'm not the only one."

"Ash is not a coordinator and he beat them as a trainer would." Miette said dismissively and Serena had to agree with that, Ash besting Emily, Jessilina, and Brianna didn't really count in terms of great upsets given his own background. "And besides, you then beat him with that impressive Rhydon of yours which just adds to it all. Honestly I was surprised that you used it in your appeal. I was expecting your Meowstic or Vivillon, maybe Sylveon given her moves, but not Rhydon."

"Misty has taught me this year, through her actions mind you, that surprise and using an unexpected Pokémon is a good thing." Serena said which Miette could only agree with seeing as Misty kept surprising Kalos with her Pokémon on the Showcase circuit this year. "And Rhydon has never done an appeal before, all the others have, so it was his turn to do one. Plus, I don't want to be seen as reliant on him to win my ribbons, he was who won two of them for me. It was in rather spectacular fashion each time, but I need to mix things up lest I become predictable."

"Right, he evolved in Coumarine to best Jessilina's Seviper." Miette said remembering that Contest well seeing as she lost to Serena in it. "That was impressive and good seeing as you beat me in the round before that."

"It was lucky but I'm not complaining." Serena said with a smile. "However, today he showed that he could appeal just as well as he can battle."

"That he did, I look forward to seeing him perform in the future." Miette said. "Whenever we both feel ready to return to the circuit that is and that's at least another year aways for me."

"It will be good but like you I feel like I am a year or two away from returning for my second crack at Aria as I'm still not at the level I want to be to face her again." Serena said. "But what about you, Miette, I've never seen you use a Lopunny before. I remember your Clauncher from Coumarine, but the Lopunny seems new."

"I've had him almost all year, caught him as a Buneary back home after I returned there following the Master Class we were in." Miette said. "He was a city Pokémon who needed help and I gave it to him with a Poke Puff and we bonded thanks to that so I couldn't not catch him. For a while we were building our bond, I usually used him in appeals as he really likes to show off his moves, but he really came into his own as a potential battle partner when he evolved after finding me a Key Stone."

"Ah so that was the Pokémon." Serena said understanding now. "And Misty has a Buneary if I recall correctly."

"Yes but that is pure coincidence as I didn't know her personally before I caught my Buneary and frankly I like it now that mine's evolved, gotta be different from our pack leader after all." Miette said with a grin. "Plus, Lopunny is a Mega Evolution capable Pokémon and one that requires high friendship to evolve, not that I doubt that Misty's has a high friendship with hers which means that it likely doesn't want to evolve, so I should have the necessary bond from Mega Evolution when I find the Mega Stone."

"Yeah I need to actually catch a Pokémon that can Mega Evolve first before even thinking of it so it's a long way off for me." Serena admitted. "Ash has a couple of Mega Stones and a Key Stone at this point, same with May though she only has one Mega Stone, and Misty just got her first of what will likely be two Mega Stones but doesn't have a Key Stone yet. With you now obtaining a Key Stone, and I know that Dawn has one as well, I'm falling behind the other girls in this regard."

"In time, I'm sure things will work out." Miette said. "Though I'm intrigued to learn that Misty now has one, which one did she get?"

"Banettite because of course she'd get the really freaky one first." Serena said. "We got it on the way here, but Misty won't talk about what happened when she went to get it. I think she went through some tough trial because she was a lot closer to Ash than usual afterwards, but he was as supportive as ever which was nice to see."

"Just wish it was you." Miette said.

"Don't you." Serena countered.

"Of course, but I can't, and Misty really showed us that she was the alpha when she beat us in those battles she had to conclude our rival chats." Miette said. "I've already decided that I need to get away from all this next year, go somewhere where they won't be and spend a year finding myself."

"Sabi does good work." Serena said. "But we both know that by now."

"Odd woman but she does, and I'll catch up with her in time to see how things are." Miette said. "But for now, I'm good where I am and right now I'm focused on winning this."

"Not if I stop you." Serena said as a bell went to indicate that the time was coming for the battles to begin so the first two up should be in position as soon as possible. "Just don't lose Miette."

"With the chance at taking you down at the end, that's enough motivation to ensure I won't." Miette said with a laugh once again showing off her strong confidence. "Bring it Serena, I want all you got when the time comes."

"You'll get it Miette just as I expect the same in return." Serena said as they locked eyes and sparks flew though it was much friendlier than it had been when they first met as their rivalry, as intense as it was, was still a healthy one.

They keep their gazes locked until one had to break it, in this case it was Serena who did so as she turned to head to the wings to wait for her first battle of the day. She was second up so she had to be in place after the first battle began and got there just as the introductions for said battle were ending. Once she was there, Serena focused on the coming battle and tuned things out. She had to reach the final and face Miette to show that she was better than her rival and that was what drove her to win her battles and advance through the rounds.

In her first match, Serena used Sylveon and got lucky as she faced a trainer from Unova who used a Zweilous against her. The dark and dragon type was one of the worst to face a fairy type and without trying too hard Serena won by a battle off after 3 minutes to advance to the semifinals. She quickly left and passed Miette, giving her a nod and smile of support as she did, as she hurried back to the waiting room to watch Miette's first battle.

Miette didn't have much of a problem either as she employed her newly honed performance style with her Meowstic to best her opponents Accelgor on points with a graceful dodging and counter attack effort to avoid multiple super effective moves. All that was enhanced by the clear edge Miette had to her personality that translated well in a battle setting without coming off as dangerous, toxic, or whatever Brianna and Amelia where when they battled.

Serena was properly impressed by the battle she'd watched and could tell that Miette was a lot better than last time they faced which would make this a really good final if they could both make it to the final. Miette's grin at her when she returned to the waiting room during the final first round battle only added fuel to the girls' desire to face each other in the final.

Naturally Serena was the first to punch her ticket there as she was in the first of the semifinals and used Pancham to best a Hoenn coordinator's Gulpin on points in a drawn-out semifinal that really showed what Serena had learned from the Wallace Cup. She was glad to win it though and walked back to the wings to wait as Miette entered from the other side to face her own semifinal opponent and with Serena as the goal at the end Miette couldn't hold back in it or leave anything to chance.

She showed that when she revealed that her Clauncher had evolved into a Clawitzer and this time the types were on her side as she faced a Gigalith, a rock type. It took Miette two minutes to dispatch it and win by Battle Off in a battle a little sharper than Serena expected but she understood Miette's eagerness to face her had probably caused it and Miette even apologized to her opponent for it.

The coordinator she beat didn't like it, however, and he was muttering to himself as he left but Serena ignored him as she walked out for the final of the Aquacorde Contest to the cheering crowd who were eager for the final. Miette just stood waiting for her, grinning and Poke Ball already in her hand as she awaited her battle with Serena that would decide who won the Aquacorde Town Contest.

"Well folks, this is it." Jillian said excitedly as Serena reached her starting point and returned Miette's grin with one of her own. "It's down to the final two coordinators here in Aquacorde and I should really say performers as that is who they are, two of the best performers in Kalos going at it for the Aquacorde Ribbon."

At that the crowd roared for both girls while Serena and Miette locked eyes ignoring the crowd. This was a battle about them, a battle to decide their fates as both had a lot riding on this and of course it would be another notch in their long rivalry, one that Serena had taken more wins that loses in.

"First up, it's the higher ranked performer and one of the dark horses and fan favorites on the circuit this year." Jillian said gesturing to Serena. "She's got impressive victories over Jessilina and Ash Ketchum, the Upset of Kanto himself, to win two of her ribbons and one of those was her shock win in the Wallace Cup. Now she's going for that 4th ribbon that she needs and for the second time is facing a fellow Master Class finalist from her own year in that competition. From Vaniville Town, it's the Kalos Princess herself, Princess Serena!"

The crowd let out a roar for Serena that only seemed to light a fire behind Miette's eyes. Serena did her best to match it, but she'd always lacked the confident edge that Miette had, she made up for it with other advantages she had over Miette and today she'd show it again in the final.

"Against her is one of the fastest improving coordinators and a performer often in Serena's shadow though she did best Serena last year in the Couriway Showcase." Jillian said gesturing to Miette. "Now she's looking for another upset and to become the first of the three Master Class finalists from her year to secure a guaranteed spot in the Grand Festival with her 5th ribbon. Give it up for the Bluebell of Kalos, Miette."

Miette was actually shocked that she'd finally been given a moniker and it wasn't one that she hated but she didn't let that show as she set herself and grinned at Serena while the crowd roared almost as loud for her as it did for Serena. This was her moment, her chance to win her final ribbon and best Serena in front of those important to her, mainly her crush and his girlfriend who she looked up to both as the girl who won Ash's heart and for her Contest skills.

All that was just icing though, this was really about her and Serena and she was ready for this final. Miette had basically tipped her Pokémon to Serena and was glad Serena had answered in kind during the rounds making it easy for Miette to predict who she'd face.

Serena for her part was certain she knew Miette's Pokémon and had moved to ensure that of her remaining ones it would be clear who she'd likely use as well. True she could surprise Miette but of her remaining 3, one still refused to actually battle for her and the other had already bested Miette in battle. No this was for a different Pokémon, and she was ready for it. It had to be these two for this battle.

"Battle begin!" Jillian called when it was clear that there would be no trash talk, the girls had said enough throughout the day already and now it was time to talk with their Pokémon as the Aquacorde Contest final began and the 5-minute timer started to count down.

"Delphox, let's go!" Serena said tossing out her Poke Ball.

"Slurpuff, time to perform!" Miette said at almost the exact same time. "And start us off by using Cotton Spore and prepare for the follow up if it's defended."

"Burn it away with Flamethrower." Serena countered as both Pokémon burst from their Poke Balls already in full battle readiness. "And stay alert Delphox, Miette's going to be tricky."

Slurpuff was the first to act sending out a swarm of cotton like spores from her mouth that began to traverse the stage towards Delphox who's stick was already glowing. Delphox wasn't going to let the speed reduction move hit her however as she unleashed her own attack in a powerful gout of flames from her stick and at Slurpuff's Cotton Spore. The grass type attack had no way of stopping the move and was easily burned up by it thus preventing the attack from hitting her.

However, it did create a wall of fire and burning spore things that smoked in it between Delphox and Slurpuff which was exactly what Miette was going for with the attack as she expected a fire type attack to defend against the grass type move. Slurpuff was already on the move running towards the flames before Delphox had finished her Flamethrower and Miette was giving her next order.

"Leap over it and use Play Rough." Miette said.

"Dodge and counter with Scratch." Serena said surprised by the almost Ash level of recklessness that Miette was showing but she did admire and have feelings for Ash like Serena did, so it wasn't really too much of a surprise that this had been the follow up that Miette had spoken of. "Don't let Slurpuff reach you."

In this case it was Miette who came out on top as Slurpuff had leapt over the flames with a flip just before Delphox finished her Flamethrower, so she didn't have time to avoid as the small, pink and white, fairy type slammed into her face and began to roughly play with her. At least the angle ensured that Delphox wasn't brought down to the ground by the move or else Miette would have had a stronger advantage right from the start.

Despite still standing, however, all Delphox could do was wail in annoyance, her fire type ensured that she was resistant to this attack so she wasn't too badly damaged from it, as Slurpuff attacked her. However, she did prepare her counter as her claws on her left hand glowed with the normal type attack.

Miette saw this as the fire had finally died down and grinned, it was time for Serena to see her own influence on Miette's battle style. Miette had learned a lot from the Wallace Cup and in the subsequent Contests where she'd started to really hone it and she was looking forward to showing that to her rival.

"Use Play Rough to dodge that and then hit Delphox with Fairy Wind the moment you have an opening." Miette said as she saw the Scratch form. "Dance around it my dear."

"Slurpuff." Slurpuff said as she finished her Play Rough with a kick to Delphox's chest that she used to flip backwards and then employed her height to lean back and under the slash of Delphox's claw.

What happened next was both amazing and incredibly frustrating to Serena and Delphox as Slurpuff danced the way only a performance Pokémon could, all while using Play Rough so she was losing points herself as it would classified as a miss, to avoid the slashes of Delphox's Scratch attack which balanced Miette's lost points by causing Serena to lose points as well. It was a flipping, twirling, and strange dance as it was using a move but with Slurpuff's height being so much less than Delphox's she easily managed it.

Then, as soon as the Scratch ended with Slurpuff cartwheeling to one side to leap over the claw as Delphox attempted another slash, Slurpuff countered. She opened her mouth and spewed forth the pink mist of Fairy Wind right into Delphox's face that staggered her back with a grunt. Again, she was resistant to the attack but still, it was annoying and chipped away at Serena's points, but the move had forced Slurpuff to stand in one place and Serena countered.

"Push through it and use Psybeam." Serena ordered. "Blast Slurpuff back and then use Flamethrower again as soon as you can."

"Delphox." Delphox said through the Fairy Wind as she leveled her stick at Slurpuff who was still spewing forth the attack and sent out the peculiar beam of psychic type power at her foe.

Delphox knew Fairy Wind well, she'd trained with Sylveon a lot and Serena liked to incorporate the move into their Freestyles so Delphox could easily see through it to ensure that her attack landed and land it did. The psychic type attack slammed into Slurpuff's face thanks to their height difference and sent the fairy type blasting back with a wail of pain as she wasn't resistant, or weak, to the attack and hit the ground hard rolling over it and away from Delphox.

The Fox Pokémon spat out a gob of pink spit as she grinned at her advantage and leveled her stick at the still rolling Slurpuff. This time she'd hit her foe and show which of them was the better performance Pokémon as she unleashed another intense gout of flames from the end of her stick.

"Redirect it back with Psychic." Miette commanded as Slurpuff came to a stop. "You can do it Slurpuff, I know it."

Slurpuff understood the order and the skill needed to pull it off but didn't shy away from it as she looked up and at her foe as the flames tore across the stage towards her. As they did her eyes glowed blue, as did her body, and she focused on the flames. There was no point in getting up from the ground for this, she needed all her focus to pull this off, but Slurpuff would show that she could do it as she grasped the flames with her Psychic.

All anyone could do was gasp as the flames glowed blue and suddenly they shot up right before the reached Slurpuff, hot enough for the fairy type Pokémon to feel their heat but they didn't touch her, before they arched back in a smooth move aiming right at a shocked Delphox who hadn't expected this to happen. With the more fluid nature of fire, it was easier to just redirect it while moving rather than to stop it and then redirect it so that is what Slurpuff did.

Serena grit her teeth at this, it was an impressive move that she had to give Miette credit for, but she wasn't going to let it get to her or Delphox. She already saw an opening and countered right away.

"Leap into the air and over it as you send out a Fire Blast at Slurpuff." Serena yelled. "It can't dodge or redirect that right now while it is still using Psychic."

"Delphox." Delphox said understanding as she ended her Flamethrower and leapt into the air as high as she could manage.

Thanks to keeping the Flamethrower up she had ensured that Slurpuff was too preoccupied with the counter to call it off as the fire shot beneath where she'd been and she pointed her stick at Slurpuff, the end glowing as she did. Between the Psychic counter and being on the ground, there was no way that Slurpuff could avoid this attack, especially with this angle as Delphox barked a war cry and blasted out her Fire Blast attack as she reached the apex of her leap.

The 5-point star of flames shot out of her stick and down at an angle towards Slurpuff on the ground. All Slurpuff could manage was to finish the counter and look up to see the center of the star slam into her as she lay there on the ground and wail in pain as the fire engulfed her. A black star was scorched into the ground as Delphox grinned, landed where she'd leapt from, her stick still leveled as the flames smoldered around her opponent.

It was certainly an impressive move, but it wasn't enough to take out Slurpuff who groaned but rose from the center of the flames, blacked and bruised but still in this fight as the fire continued to burn around her. She wasn't done and Miette grinned, her Pokémon was tough and wouldn't back down, this battle was hers.

"Play Rough." Miette ordered. "We are still in this Slurpuff."

"Fire Blast." Serena countered as Slurpuff ran out of the dying flames and towards Delphox. "Keep it from you. So long as we fight at range this battle is ours Delphox."

"Wait for my command." Miette said as the 5-pointed star of flames burst once again from Delphox's stick and shot at Slurpuff, waiting for the right moment to time it and grinning broader the moment it came. "Now, slide!"

"Slide?" Serena asked confused as it brought back memories of something else and then it hit her. "Damn Ash and his ability to inspire us with how he battles."

"Ash is amazing, it's no wonder we fall for him." Miette said still grinning as Slurpuff leapt forward in a feet first slide. "This is my take on what I saw in the Wallace Cup, a way to honor him as best I can."

It was just like what Ash would do with Lucario, or Riolu back before he evolve, to counter some moves by sliding under them before Lucario leapt up to land a physical attack. However, Ash usually used it against moves with lower-than-normal accuracy like Focus Blast, though he had used it against a Moonblast in the Wallace Cup, while Miette was using it against a Fire Blast that was more accurate than say Focus Blast.

Still, Miette had timed her command perfectly the way a performer would so that Slurpuff slid right under the star, between the two lower points, and towards a shocked Delphox. It was certainly a very Ash-like move but with a slight performance twist to it that continued as Slurpuff closed in on Delphox.

Then, at the last moment, Slurpuff used her legs to hit the ground as she activated Play Rough and bounced off the ground, barrel rolling through the air to go over Delphox's outstretched stick and slam into her face again and this time bringing the taller Pokémon down to the ground with her. Delphox hit the ground hard and Slurpuff rolled off her face, but the smaller Pokémon used her heigh to flip onto her feet, slide a few inches and pounce mid slide, leaping forward and onto the downed Delphox to play roughly on her chest.

Delphox groaned from the attack but used her height, strength, and resistance to fairy type moves to push through it and rise, throwing Slurpuff off her as she did and causing the other Pokémon to bounce off the ground were she pivoted and landed to face Delphox for her next move as Play Rough had ended. Both were too close for ranged attacks to be fully effective so it would be close combat now and Serena and Miette both knew the moves they had to use and the one that the other girl would use.

"Slurpuff…" Miette began readying another Play Rough.

"Delphox…" Serena also began preparing to use Scratch.

Before either girl could give that final order, however, the bell to signal the end of the battle rang surprising them and the crowd as they were fully in the thralls of the battle. The Pokémon too blinked in confusion, they were so deep into this fight that both wanted to finish it by knocking the other out to see who was strongest, but the rules of Contests prevented that. The battle was over, as was the Aquacorde Contest which meant that it was time to actually look at their points for the first time and see who had won.

"Woah that was an intense battle for sure, I almost forgot we were in a Contest battle for a moment there but for the grace that was on display." Jillian said as both girls looked up to the scoreboard to see their points, they'd not been focused on them at all in the battle that was how intense it had been. "But we have a winner from that and the winner of the Aquacorde Town Contest by points is…"

Miette and Serena looked to the board and instantly they could tell that there was a clear winner. It was close for sure; bother were down to around 30% points remaining with one just above that point and the other just below it, so it still clear for them all to see. One of them had landed one more hit than the other and that was likely the deciding factor in the end.

"…Miette!" Jillian said as the crowd roared at that. "In what has to be considered an upset, Miette, the Bluebell of Kalos, has beaten the Kalos Princess, Serena, and won the Aquacorde Contest. As this is her 5th ribbon, Miette has now secured her spot in the upcoming Kalos Grand Festival."

With that the crowd roared as indoor fireworks went off and Miette, along with images of her Pokémon, appeared on screen under a 'Winner!' banner. It was certainly an upset, but it really showed all that Miette had done to improve since the Wallace Cup and how it had paid off in helping her win this Contest.

"Delphox, return." Serena said a sad smile on her face as she recalled her Pokémon and looked at the Poke Ball in her hand. "You did amazing my friend, that was a tough battle that you fought hard until the end in, but Miette had us there. She beat us fair and square and more than earned this ribbon, she deserves this win."

"Slurpuff, return." Miette said recalling her own Pokémon smiling at the Poke Ball. "I can't believe it; I beat Serena in a battle and in front of Ash of all people, well Ash and Misty but well Ash still owns my heart even if I won't get his. I really do admire Serena and her talents so this is big to me and for our rivalry because I wouldn't be here without her pushing me to get better so that I could keep pace with her. I can't wait to see where we go from her Slurpuff, next up is the Grand Festival but first we must congratulate Serena on a hard-fought battle."

With that Miette put her Poke Ball away at the same time as Serena did and both girls walked out and onto the battlefield together for the traditional ending to a Contest. This was the right thing to do, and they were good friends so both smiled as they reached the center and Serena held out her hand to Miette showing grace in her defeat.

"Congratulations Miette, you were amazing." Serena said smiling at her friend and rival as Miette grasped her hand in hers and they shook for all to see. "I look forward to seeing you in the Grand Festival."

"And I you because I know you will be in it as well so that is where we will settle this but let's remind everyone that we are ladies of Kalos and end properly." Miette said smiling back at Serena as she pulled Serena towards her to embrace her with a kiss on each cheek that Serena returned with just as much enthusiasm while the crowd cheered, and they broke apart. "I mean it when I say I wouldn't be here without you and our rivalry Serena so don't let me down, be it by ribbons or the Wildcard, you'd better make the Grand Festival because that is where we will decide who's best. I don't want to win it unless I get to face you during it."

"I can't think of anything better." Serena said still smiling at Miette, touched by the other girl's words. "And you have made me better too, all my rivals have, I wouldn't be at this point without you as well, and you're one of the best of them Miette. We will celebrate tonight but for now I must leave, this is your moment so embrace it. I'll get the next one."

"We shall see." Miette said her smile turning into a grin before she offered Serena a polite curtsy that Serena matched at the same depth to show their mutual respect and admiration for each other, something that the blogs would go crazy over.

Serena just smiled back as she curtsied and turned to leave to head to the changing room to change and get ready to celebrate with Miette and the other tonight. Miette had more than earned it, but it still stung to lose, it always stung to lose, and while Serena had had a plan for if she lost, she was unsure now that she had actually lost. Hopefully she'd get answers soon.

For her part Miette just smiled as Serena left and then turned to find Yuma standing there with a tray in her hands that had the Aquacorde Ribbon resting in it. The ribbon was in the standard Kalos style ribbon with the crest of the town in the center and the ribbon part a navy blue edged in white. It was the perfect ribbon for Miette's final one and she'd won it against the only person she would have wanted to win it against, her rival and friend Serena.

"Miette, with this you've now secured 5 ribbons and qualified for the Grand Festival." Yuma said smiling at her as she held out the tray containing the Aquacorde Ribbon. "I look forward to seeing you there and all that you and the other performers bring to Contests as you expand how we see Contests in your own way. Now please take the Aquacorde Ribbon."

"Thank you Yuma." Miette said smiling reaching out with a steady hand and picking up the Aquacorde Ribbon before raising it above her head to the cheering crowd and loudly proclaiming. "I did it, I won the Aquacorde Ribbon!"

The crowd roared as Miette brought her hand down to look at the ribbon there and smile at it resting in her palms. It was her 5th which meant that she'd made it to the Grand Festival, and she knew Serena would, so she'd see her rival there soon. It made her happy to think of what was coming in the future as she embraced her moment and let the cheers of the crowd wash over her and the world around Miette seemed to fall away in her moment of victory.


Serena was in her changing room after the Contest getting changed back into her normal clothes as she processed her loss to Miette. It had been a close, good, battle which could have gone either way but in the end Miette had bested her and earned her 5th ribbon to secure her place in the Grand Festival. They'd been friendly afterwards as expected and meant everything that they'd said to each other, Serena was proud of her friend for winning and punching a ticket into the Grand Festival without needing to go via the Wildcard, but it still stung to lose.

She'd been prepared for this eventuality and what it might mean for her plans regarding the Grand Festival but that didn't mean that she was actually ready to face it when it happened. Serena still had a chat with Sabrina coming up that should help but right now she was a bit at a loss. Miette would be with them tonight and she wanted to be happy for her friend as they all celebrated her win with her, Miette had done so for Serena after the Wallace Cup, so she had to pull it together. Then she could truly decide what came next.

At least that was what Serena's plan was when she was shaken from her thoughts by a knock on the door just after she finished changing. Almost right afterwards a deeply familiar voice called through it and Serena couldn't help but smile at hearing it as it was just the person who could help her right now.

"Serena, dear, can I come in?" Her mother Grace said from the other side of the door as she knocked again. "I was told that you were changing here so I came as soon as I could. Are you decent?"

"Of course, I'm decent don't worry." Serena said. "I just finished changing so it's all good mom."

The door opened and her mother walked in before closing the door behind her. Serena couldn't help but smile as she saw her mother for the first time since the start of the year when she left home where she'd been since getting back from Kanto to go meet May, Misty, Ash, and May's brother Max at the airport in Lumiose City.

As always, her mother looked the same as she remembered. A tall, tanned, woman with a full bosom that Serena really hoped was hereditary, short brown hair and bright blue eyes. Grace was very different from her daughter to the point that at a glance it would be hard to tell that they were related but for their eyes. Grace was much more down to earth, still partially tomboyish in her simple navy shirt and green overalls that were all tied up at her waist but for all their differences in style, Serena loved her mother dearly and her mother loved her back.

Sure, there had been a little friction when Serena left home the year before using becoming a trainer as an excuse to avoid following her mother's path as a Rhyhorn racer because she didn't want to be one but after the Master Class and Serena, Miette and Shauna's impromptu Freestyle in Lumiose City after the incident, Grace had realized what her daughter's true path was. Now she fully supported it and even had something to give her in a satchel that was at her hip which was new to Serena but first she had to make sure that her daughter was ok after her loss.

"You were amazing out there Serena." Grace said as she pulled Serena into a tight hug as soon as she reached her. "I could see how much you've grown since I last saw you."

"Thanks mom." Serena said smiling and holding back tears at the loss and her mother's kind words as she hugged her mom back just as tightly. "It was still not enough to win it though and I really wanted to win it. It would have given me a clear direction, now I'm a little unsure of what to do next."

"Nonsense." Grace said as she patted Serena's back. "You were great out there just like you were back in the Master Class and all the Contests I've watched you in on TV this year. You know from last year that you win some and lose some, but that you always bounce back dear. That is why you are doing Contests after all, to learn and grow. Use this to grow."

"I know, I've grown so much since the Master Class thanks to Contests and all those around me this year." Serena said with a smile as she pulled back from her mother and comforted by her words. "Losing still sucks."

"It always does but whenever I lose a race I just get back to that grindstone, learn where I went wrong so that I can correct it and focus on winning the next one." Grace said with a smile. "Miette won this one but it's not the Grand Festival, you still have that and that is what you should be focusing on."

"True and I at least have the Wildcard path to qualifying for the Grand Festival." Serena said. "It's just not how I would have wanted to qualify for it."

"Sometimes you qualify by winning through the normal channels, sometimes you need a play in event to secure one of the open spots, but what matters is how you get there." Grace said seriously. "I know you honey; you will get there no matter the path you have to take to do so. You have talent, friends, and support. I will be there fore you as well at the Grand Festival, I know you'll make it."

"Thank mom, I needed to hear that." Serena said amazed at how easy it was for a mother to know what was best for a daughter because all she needed was her mother's support to help confirm that her path forward was, while not the best, still a doable one. "I always thought that if I lost here I'd go via the Wildcard, but I was still hesitant as I wasn't ready to face the reality of losing until it happened."

"Do you have the time to avoid it?" Grace asked. "If I recall, the Grand Festival is in a few weeks so it's pretty soon."

"I'd have to win the next two Contests I entered, and we'd have to hit them right away with very little leeway for other adventures or distractions, which knowing our group tends to happen more often than you'd think." Serena said. "And it will be close and taxing on the others while also possibly costing some Contests given Misty and May's are able to official judge Contests. Plus, there's a Mega Stone that Misty might be able to use in Santalune Forest. If we head to Lumiose now we can get it as we'd have to go through the forest and after her last Mega Stone I think she needs something more straightforward."

"Then do that, it seems like more relaxing and you can focus on this Wildcard and this way there may be a chance for another coordinator to at least make the Wildcard if Misty and May get to judge while you make your way back to Lumiose." Grace said. "Just go for it with everything you have Serena, use the same effort you used to win the Master Class, and don't look back. No point in running yourself ragged to get to the Grand Festival and then being too taxed to do your best in it."

"That's a good way to look at it." Serena said seeing her mother's point. "I know May pushed it to the limit her first two years by winning the last Contests in Hoenn and Kanto respectively but there was time as the circuits were well established and had good periods of time between the final Contest and the Grand Festival. It's not here and the Contests exist right up to the day before the Wildcard round if I recall. They will certainly need Misty and May to judge them and if they're judging, I can't compete so it would be better to focus on the Wildcard."

"See, all you needed was some motherly advice to reach the right conclusion for you." Grace said with a smile. "I know you'll do fine. You lost today to someone who has always been a good rival to you, you'll get her next time."

"Oh, the thought of facing Miette in the Grand Festival to decide it as we are one and one against each other in Contest Battles this year is really going to motivate me to make it." Serena said with a grin. "I want to face her there to decide our record for the year. Plus, I want to face Emily again, she's bested me twice already but now I'm ready for her and her fairy types. Brianna, well, she's different."

"I saw that girl on TV in the Wallace Cup, she's a real piece of work." Grace said recalling how bratty and angry the supposed favorite for the first Kalos Ribbon Cup had been. "Her mother can't be proud of her."

"I don't know on that front as I don't really know her family background but she's the final hurdle and the toughest of all the coordinators this year." Serena said. "I have a lot more to deal with before then that I should focus on, though I am mentally prepared for Brianna should I face her again. That starts with finding out how the Wildcard works, the number of spots available via it, and then using it to advance to the Grand Festival."

"Good, I'm happy to see you've decided what's next, this year at least." Grace said. "What about next year?"

"I'm still uncertain but I have an idea of what I'd like to do should I fail to win the Grand Festival that I want to run by an, um, I really don't know what to call her as we've only spoken once but she's an advisor or mentor of sorts I guess." Serena said unsure how to categorize her relationship with Sabrina. "She's helped May a lot and helped me get ready for the rest of the year and what I need to have in mind should I cross paths with Brianna again, so I think she'll be able to help me with this as well."

"Well, I trust your judgement dear, but you should tell me more about this woman later." Grace said. "She sounds intriguing if she can get this kind of reaction from you after just one meeting."

"I will but with May and Misty's help, they know her well so they can truly explain who she is." Serena said. "And you can meet Ash and Misty at last."

"Yes I am eager to see the boy who's stolen my daughter's heart and the girl who has his and is thus your rival in more ways than one." Grace said with a grin. "It will be interesting to speak to them and see how you and Misty dealt with the fact that you both like the same guy."

"Mother!" Serena said going bright red. "I…"

"Serena, dear, your mother knows you best and I know you have a crush on Ash." Grace said. "You wouldn't shut up about him when you came back from Kanto last year and the way you spoke of him in the Wallace Cup to that Amelia girl before your battle against her, well it was obvious that you have fallen hard for him. I hope all is ok there, I know you and this Misty girl are friends but still…"

"Yes mother, Misty and I are good, and she's become a dear friend after the year we've spent together." Serena said trying to hide how red she was and failing. "And Ash doesn't know that I like him, and I'd like to keep it like that for the moment, please. Misty does know, we've discussed this and dealt with it in a mature and healthy manner. The woman I'm seeing soon, she's helped others who've lost Ash to Misty and is helping me come to terms with it as well. Misty and I meant what we said at the Wallace Cup though I won't lie, it was kinda fun winning the first Misty Ribbon by beating Ash and having Misty present it to me."

"I figured there was a lot more behind that exchange that what was seen on TV." Grace said with a smile. "But so long as you are ok dear."

"I am." Serena said. "And I'm ready for what is next. I'm ready to give it my all and qualify for the Grand Festival via the Wildcard."

"Good and on that front I've brought a little gift for you." Grace said opening her satchel and pulling out a strange item that she held out to Serena. "It's for you as I have no use for it. I've had it lying around my office for years but never needed it. I figured you could make use it as you actually have what is required for it to be used. After today I know that it was meant for you."

"Um, what is it?" Serena asked confused as she took the item she'd never seen in their house before and gasped at its heft and rigidity. "Woah, I wasn't expecting it to weigh as much as it does."

The item itself was like a floorless house but with just two sides and a pointed roof so no front or back and made of a stiff material that weight a lot. It was orange in color with rectangular sides and roof and Serena was completely lost by what the hell it was.

"That's a Protector dear." Grace said with a smile. "I got it many years ago in a Rhyhorn race as a prize for winning the race, something some races give out, but as none of my Rhyhorn ever evolved I had no used for it, so I put it away in the house and forgot about it. Then, when I saw that the Rhyhorn I gave you had evolved into a Rhydon when you used him to win the Wallace Cup I remembered it and got it out to give to you when I next saw you. When you said you were coming here for a Contest I knew that this was the right time to give it to you and after seeing you use Rhydon in an appeal showing how well rounded he is with you I knew it was perfect."

"Oh, um, thank you." Serena said still holding the Protector as she got used to its weight. "But, er, what does it do? I think I've heard of this thing before, but I don't know the first thing about it."

"Right, you grew up with Rhyhorns so you wouldn't know what it is." Grace said slapping her head. "A Protector is an item that Rhydons love and if a Rhydon is holding one while inside its Poke Ball and is then sent through either a trade machine or the Pokémon Transfer Network it will evolve into a Rhyperior shortly upon coming out of its ball."

"Wait really?" Serena said her eyes wide as she looked from the Protector in her hands and up to her mother in shock at what she was being told. "That's how Rhydon evolves. I've heard a bit about Rhyperiors, they're really strong, but I never really looked into how Rhydon would evolve into one."

"That they are but as I've never had a Rhydon I never needed it, but I kept it just in case as it is a useful thing to have should any of my Rhyhorns evolve." Grace said. "None did except for the one I gave you as he didn't want to be raced and now I see why, he really loves these Contests you do. As such, the Protector is now yours, just don't force it on Rhydon, let him chose if he wants to take it but I think he will. After all, he evolved for you so clearly he wanted that."

"True and it was when I needed him the most in the Coumarine Contest." Serena said. "A bit of a surprise but I'm not complaining as I wouldn't have won it without him evolving, and Misty's really taught me that unusual Pokémon that may not be my style aren't a bad thing. Of course, I'll run this by Rhydon and let him decide what to do and I'll see if the others have had Pokémon evolve in similar ways to see if they have any advice for me."

"That's my girl." Grace said smiling at her daughter. "I knew that you'd find it useful."

"Thank you mom." Serena said as she put it down and pulled her mother into another hug. "And for your kind words, I really needed them."

"I know dear." Grace said hugging Serena back before they separated. "Now shall we go and see you friends; you have some introductions to make for me and I can't wait to meet them."

"Right but don't embarrass me." Serena said as she hefted up the Protector and put it in her bag, she'd do some more research on it later, but she had a feeling that one of her friends had had an evolution in a similar way so surely one of them would be able to help. "Promise."

"Serena, it's a mother's job, ne her duty, to embarrass her daughter." Grace said with a grin as the headed out of the room. "I'll be restrained though, for the most part at least."

"Why don't I believe you." Serena said with a sigh, but she was smiling regardless as they left the changing room.

Sure, she'd lost to Miette but Miette had more than earned her win and proven that she was better than Serena today so Serena would use this loss to get better, make the Grand Festival via the wildcard, and then she and Miette would decide things in the Grand Festival. Before that though there was fun to be had tonight as they celebrated Miette's win, her mother met Ash and Misty, and they all had a good time.

Soon they'd be returning to Lumiose City and the final events of the year, with one side adventure to look forward to along the way, but for now it was time to have fun and celebrate the end of Serena's year of doing Contests. Next up was Santalune Forest and all that it held for them as their journey in Kalos entered its final stages.