XY

On the way to Shalour, Serena and the gang found themselves passing through yet another rest-stop destination: Brackish Town. It was a charming little place, with a whole block dedicated to its bakeries and chocolate makers.

Today, however, it wasn't baked goods that would sidetrack the gang. Something else had caught their attention, something that made Serena especially stop dead in her tracks.

"No way!" she exclaimed, splitting from the party and jumping to a bulletin board. "Diantha! Diantha's going to be here!"

"Diantha? No way!" Clemont too came to a sudden halt, his shock and awe being a surprise to Ash as he looked back.

"Diantha? Who's that?"

There on the board was a large poster depicting the woman in question, posing stylishly with a Poké ball in hand. Alongside her was another, less recognizable figure.

"Ash, how can you not know Diantha! She's only the most famous actress in all of Kalos!" Serena gushed, clasping her hands together. Her heart soared at the sight of the figure, a fact she had no chance of hiding from the rest of the group. "The star of a dozen critically acclaimed films! She's elegant, charming, beautiful—! My absolute idol!"

Serena's excitement put a smile on Ash's face.

"Heh, that's really cool, Serena!" Ash replied, turning but not moving from his spot. He still had a foot firmly pointed down the path they were walking on.

"Oh! And you can't forget to mention this, Serena." Chiming in, Clemont looked over to Ash. "She's the champion of the Kalos Region!"

In an instant, Ash was at Serena's side, sending her reeling back in surprise.

"No way! She's the strongest trainer in Kalos?!" he exclaimed, his interest seemingly taking a quick turn. One moment he was mildly amused, the next, he was fully enraptured.

Serena couldn't help but smile, however. She saw a familiar fire burning in his eyes.

"Yep! Isn't she amazing?" Giving a wistful sigh, Serena looked onto the poster again, for what she knew were very different reasons than Ash's. Ah well, she was just glad the two could share this.

For now, at least.

"Alright, I've made a decision." Turning from the poster, Ash left Serena behind to face the rest of the group. "I'm going to challenge Diantha to a battle!"

Serena paused.

"Huh!?"

X

"Jeeze, how long can this line be!"

After Ash's initial hare-brained scheme of sneaking in had gone awry, the group decided to take the more straightforward path. They'd grab a ticket to the event Diantha was attending today, an exhibition match between her and a town native. Unfortunately, the straightforward path was also the one more traveled by, and a substantial line waited between them and even entering the arena.

"This isn't so bad, Ash," Clemont suggested, looking up from a pamphlet detailing all the town's local hotspots. "It's said great things come to those who wait!"

Huffing, Ash crossed his arms and looked off to the side.

"They also come to those at the front of the line," he muttered.

Before Ash could turn back, something off in the distance caught his eye, prompting a mischievous smile to cross his lips.

"You thinking what I'm thinking, buddy?" Ash grabbed Pikachu's attention with a nudge, earning a similarly devilish 'Pika!' once his partner saw what he saw.

"Do I want to know what you're thinking, Ash?" Serena had hoped the antics would be kept to a minimum today, but that seemed to be a lost cause when Ash and Pikachu were involved.

"Nope! That'd ruin the fun," he answered, stepping out of the line. "I'll be back in a bit, you guys wait in line!"

"Ash, wait—" Sighing, Serena gave up before she began really trying, watching as Ash and Pikachu ran off to who-knows-where. "Clemont, what're the chances of Ash being unfashionably late, you think?"

Clemont chuckled.

"You don't need me to run the math on that, Serena."

Y

"Unfortunately, Brackish Town's champion, Magnus, has come down with an unfortunate case of the flu. Today's match will have to be postponed."

A wave of groans spread through the packed stadium, disappointment reaching a fevered pitch almost instantly. It'd taken forever just to get seated, and now it looked like the whole event wasn't even happening.

"Well, at least Ash isn't missing much," Serena said with a huff, glancing to her right. She had left an empty spot next to her, specifically for him.

"I wanted to see a fight!" Decrying the injustice of the canceled match, Bonnie raised Dedenne into the air, allowing him to cry a rapturous squeak in agreement.

"I think you mean a battle, Bonnie." Clemont gave an awkward laugh, before he turned back to look at the battlefield. "Oh, that's odd. The referee hasn't moved."

"Huh?" Glancing back, Serena found exactly as Clemont had said: the referee, still standing there, his hand up to his ear. "Maybe he's getting some more info?"

After a few moments, her guess came true.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm happy to report a substitute challenger has been located!" the referee announced, soothing the indignant crowd. "While not a champion of the great Brackish Town, this young upstart has been a top finalist in almost a half dozen regional Pokémon Leagues!"

"Oh that's good, they found someone!" Clemont commented, watching the referee as they shifted to introduce the guest of honor: Diantha. Serena was practically out of her seat for that, her hands jittering as the Pokémon Champion strolled onto the battlefield.

"Yeah! It'd be a shame if they had to cancel the whole event," she replied, her eyes firmly on Diantha. "Too bad Ash is going to miss this."

"And for our substitute challenger! All the way from the far-off region of Kanto!" —The referee's words made Serena's jaw drop— "Ash Ketchum!"

"Huh!?"

Bursting from the opposite end of the battlefield, Ash and Pikachu arrived, the former gripping the rim of his hat as he grinned.

"Diantha! It's amazing to get a chance to battle you!" he called out, his voice booming across the field while he strolled forward. "But don't think that this'll be easy just cause I'm subbing in— Me and Pikachu are going all out!"

Smiling, Diantha pulled out a lone Poké ball from her pocket.

"Now this is unexpected," she said simply. "Alright young trainer, I accept your challenge! Let us make this a grand performance!"

With a graceful turn, Diantha struck an elegant pose, throwing her arms back.

"And for it, here is our star performer," she declared. "Go, Gardevoir!"

Y

"Thunderbolt! Then Iron Tail!"

"Pika!" A flash of lightning extended across the battlefield, followed by a flurry of movement as Pikachu charged. His tail was alight with bright, silver energy, ready to deliver a devastating blow.

"Garde." With a quiet bow, however, Gardevoir side-stepped Pikachu's attack, letting his Thunderbolt pass harmlessly overhead as well. Her dodge was so casual, it was almost like she was playing with them.

Still, that wasn't everything they had in store.

"Quick turn, on your Iron Tail!" At Ash's command, Pikachu slammed his tail into the ground, halting his momentum in an instant. In the next, it launched him back towards his opponent.

So went the exchange between Ash and Diantha, the latter always seeming to easily evade, and the former always having another trick up his sleeve.

Serena's hands jittered in her lap as she watched, the now familiar feeling of adrenaline running through her veins.

"I can't believe he did this," she said aloud, voicing her incredulity for the third time now. Try as she did, however, she couldn't hide the shiver underneath her voice, which only grew every time Pikachu and Gardevoir traded blows.

"Go, Pikachu! Kick her butt!" Unlike Serena, Bonnie had no interest in reigning in her excitement, much to the amusement of her brother.

"To be honest, I totally believe it," Clemont said, watching as Ash and Pikachu fired a barrage of Iron Tails with expert precision, only to still miss their nimble opponent. "He said he was going to battle her, and he found his way! That's Ash for you."

Serena nodded but didn't look away, instead keeping her eyes locked on the battle ahead. She had expected a dose of excitement today, what with a champion being involved, but with Ash now in the mix, this was something else completely. Her heart was racing so fast, it was becoming hard to hide.

Especially from a certain pair of bespectacled eyes.

"Someone's getting fired up, I see," Clemont said aloud, his tone catching Serena off guard and making her turn.

"W-what? I don't know what you mean," she stammered, forcing her eyes forward regardless. She didn't want to miss Ash's next big play.

That reaction only seemed to confirm Clemont's suspicion.

"There's nothing embarrassing about it, Serena, Pokémon battles are a spectacle for a reason, they're spectacular!" That joke earned Clemont a boo from his sister, who bapped his shoulder just to make a point.

"I know, I just…" Serena trailed off as she went silent, unable to find the words. Now didn't feel like the time for words.

Clemont didn't seem to agree.

"You've been looking for something to pursue in your journey," he began, speaking aloud. "Why don't you consider becoming a Gym Challenger, like Ash?"

Pikachu's Iron Tail slammed into the ground, sending up a cloud of dust to obscure the battlefield. Was this Ash's next gambit to turn the battle to his favor? It felt particularly more dirty of a play than his usual fare.

"No way," Serena said with a slightly stilted laugh. Waving off the idea, she shook her head. "Battling wouldn't work out for me."

"Why not? Your passion while watching Ash battle seems clear." Clemont's interest had turned now, the battle was secondary to the topic he was discussing with Serena.

"Pika!" With a wide slash through the air, Pikachu's Iron Tail blew back the dust and debris, revealing the result of his play: a direct hit, right on Gardevoir's side.

"They got a hit in!" Serena, unable to contain herself, jumped from her seat and cheered. After a moment, though, she slowly sat back down. "But, is that enough?"

Clemont smiled.

"And I think you'd be a quick learner," he pressed, pulling at Serena's attention once more. "Why don't you think it'd be the right fit for you?"

Serena hesitated, her mind turning from the battle to the question for a moment. Before, she had dismissed the idea without a thought, but she wasn't sure why. She didn't even have the words to describe her reasons.

The sound of Pikachu and Gardevoir clashing pulled at her, as she groaned in frustration. She wanted to focus on the battle, not the question.

So, Serena would focus the question on the battle.

"Look at Ash" she began, pointing Clemont's attention to Ash's side of the field. "See how he gets, when he's battling?"

"Let her have it, Pikachu! Iron Tail!" Stomping his foot forward, Ash made a fist, throwing it into the air as Pikachu followed suit. The electric mouse bounced off the ground at Gardevoir's feet and drove an Iron Tail straight up, aiming for her chest. Gardevoir just barely dipped her head back fast enough to let Pikachu fly past. "Dive down and keep the pressure up!"

"He's yelling, roaring, throwing his arms around him with every move," Serena explained, her eyes locked on to the combat. With every strong swipe of Pikachu's Iron Tail, Ash mirrored it with his own movement. "It's like he's right there, on the field, like he's the one battling!"

Pausing, Serena put a hand up to her chest, feeling her heartbeat get away from her for a moment. She breathed out a sigh.

"It's so intense, amazing to watch, but… I can't imagine doing that myself," she explained. "Being wild and crazy like Ash— It's a good look on him, but not on a girl like me."

"Well that's not your only option!" Clemont submitted, earning a look of surprise from Serena. "Here, look at the other side, to Ash's opponent."

Clemont pointed Serena's focus to Diantha now, for surprisingly the first time since the battle had begun. Her attention had been squarely on the Pokémon and Ash up until then.

In contrast to Ash, Diantha was composed, elegant in her stance. She stood with little extraneous movement, occasionally striking a pose in time with her Gardevoir. A flick of her wrist, a turn of her hips, a raise of her hand, until—

"Moonblast!"

Her voice pierced the noise of the battlefield with perfect timing, like an actress delivering the crescendo of a dramatic scene.

"Perhaps you could become a trainer like her?" Clemont suggested, cutting through and pressing the question again.

This time, however, Serena didn't answer. Perhaps because she didn't have an answer.

"Become a trainer… Like Diantha…"

XY

"Bounce off the Shadow Ball with Iron Tail, Pikachu!"

Slamming his tail down, Pikachu followed Ash's command to a tee, detonating the oncoming Shadow Ball with one precise strike. The attack exploded with the sound of a thunderclap then, sending Pikachu flying into the air at blazing speeds. Even Diantha took a step back in surprise as Pikachu flew nearly fifty feet straight up.

"Pika!"

"Now, bring it down on them, Pikachu! Iron Tail!" At Ash's confident cry, Pikachu began his descent, charging a full force Iron Tail aimed straight for Gardevoir. This was it, the finishing blow!

For one of them at least.

"Checkmate!" With a snap of her fingers, Diantha grinned, throwing her arms back and giving her command. "Gardevoir, Moonblast!"

"Gaaaaaaaar!" Charging up a plume of roaring pink energy, Gardevoir aimed straight up at her rapidly descending foe. A perfect shot.

"Pikachu, cut straight through it with Iron Tail!" At that moment, Ash realized Diantha's plan: With Pikachu in the air, he had no way to maneuver— Meaning no matter what, this was going to hit dead on! "Hold on, buddy!"

"—devoir!" Letting out a rapturous cry, Gardevoir fired, sending the blast of moonlight straight up. In an instant, it intercepted Pikachu, forcing his rapid descent to a stop and holding him in a pitched struggle against it.

"Chuuuuuuuuu—!" Pikachu grunted as he fought against the powerful finisher, driving his Iron Tail down on it with all the force he could muster. This was no fragile Shadow Ball, that was for sure. "Piiiiiiii—!"

"Pikachu! Blow it away with—!"

"One final Moonblast, Gardevoir!" Diantha cut in before Ash could counterattack, delivering the closing line and closing move. Gardevoir charged another Moonblast in an instant and sent it straight up, smashing into her previous strike and bringing the battle to its conclusive end.

"Pika!" The colliding Moonblasts erupted all at once, enveloping Pikachu in two explosions that canceled out any attempt to get away. As the shockwave from the attacks petered out, the battle fell silent, for a moment.

"Pikachu!" Ash rushed onto the field, spotting before anyone the sight of Pikachu falling out of the sky, utterly and truly knocked out.

"Pikachu is unable to battle! Diantha is the winner!" the referee called, perhaps a bit too late. Ash caught his partner then, cradling him as he began giving assurances.

"You did awesome, buddy! I think we nearly had them there!" he called, turning in place as he waited for Pikachu to stir awake. After a moment, Pikachu's face began to twitch and Ash let out a sigh of relief. "You were amazing out there, Pikachu."

"Indeed he was. As were you."

Ash looked up, just managing to catch Diantha's Gardevoir being returned and her trainer stepping forward. The champion was cool-faced as ever, approaching with a perfect smile as she met Ash in the center of the field.

"That was a wonderful performance. There were a few moments where I nearly went to Mega Evolve my Gardevoir," she said, gripping the pendant hanging around her neck. The bright sheen of her Keystone stood out to Ash. "Nearly."

"Mega Evolution, huh…" For a moment, Ash stared longingly at the stone, before he shook his head and looked up at his opponent. "That battle was awesome! Even when me and Pikachu were going all out, we could barely keep up! How did you two do that, that moving without even calling out a move!"

"The fact you could keep up was quite impressive," Diantha noted, glancing over to the clock hanging over the stadium wall. "As for your other question—"

"Ash!" Hopping out from the stands, Serena and the others rushed onto the field, cutting into the conversation before Diantha could finish.

"Guys!" Ash waved the party over, quickly crowding the center of the arena, much to the confusion of the still-watching crowd. "Diantha, these are my friends! Serena, Clemont, and his little sister, Bonnie."

"Pika!"

"Heh, and you've already met my partner here, Pikachu!" Ash continued, as Pikachu finally sat up in Ash's arms and climbed up to his shoulder.

Gulping, Serena stepped forward, looking on at the composed and dignified Diantha. She was a nervous mess after the end of the exhibition match, and now she had to speak to one of her idols. On most other days, Serena would probably pass out.

"W-wow, Diantha! I can't believe I'm meeting you in the flesh," she blurted out to start, absolutely starstruck as she shook her hand. "I must've seen 'My Sweet, Sweet Lady' at least ten times!"

"I can't claim to be as big of a fan as Serena is, but I've also enjoyed your films as well!" Clemont added with a smile, unable to deliver the same zealous energy that Serena could. Unfortunately, any energy in his interest for Diantha was perhaps too much.

Bonnie quietly began to grin.

"You heard him, Ms. Diantha! He loves your movies!" she called, catching the champion's attention with her outburst. Before either Diantha or Clemont could realize what was happening, she darted forward. "You're surely a keeper! Won't you please take care of him?"

"Uh, huh?" Confusion was probably the most conservative word you could use to describe Diantha's expression. One moment she was talking to a group of fans and a rather interesting trainer, and now there was a young girl down on one knee. Diantha gave an awkward, but polite, smile. "I'm sorry, I don't understand?"

"You don't need to!" Clemont exclaimed, jumping forward and dragging Bonnie back, a bright red blush on his face. "Just pretend this didn't happen!"

The sheer absurdity of that request for a moment stunned Diantha, before it made her break out with a laugh.

"You four are quite an interesting party," she said with a chuckle, looking across the group of four plus Pikachu. "This certainly wasn't where I was expecting today to go at all."

Glancing back, Diantha looked over to a woman pacing back and forth at the end of the battlefield. She was staring back at Diantha and tapping her watch with an anxious sort of energy. The message was clear.

Diantha sighed.

"Unfortunately, it seems my time here is up," she announced, turning to the group and pulling their attention once more. "And here I thought I'd have time for some gâteau au chocolat…"

"Oh no, that's too bad," Clemont said, holding onto Bonnie tight before she could try for a shotgun wedding. "Still, it was an amazing opportunity to get to meet you, ma'am!"

"As it was to meet all of you." With a smile, Diantha bowed her head, as the rest of the group got ready to say their goodbyes.

"Hey, Ms. Diantha. Can I ask you something before you go?" Carrying a surprisingly polite tone, Ash approached Diantha, his earlier fiery energy seemingly calmed now. Serena perked up at that, while Diantha nodded. "I'm challenging the Kalos League right now, and I won't pretend it's my first time trying… And, failing."

That confession surprised Serena.

"I want to be a Pokémon Master someday, and I figure I should learn from people who are closer to that than I am," he said, explaining himself as Pikachu nodded in confirmation. He looked up and locked eyes with Diantha. "What's your secret, being champion and everything? How did you do it?"

"Now, isn't that a question! Admittedly I have not ever been one for advice, however~" Humming in thought, Diantha rubbed her chin, before snapping her fingers. It was as if an idea had struck her. "If there's anything that has helped me, it has been this: Don't get lost in trying to do the same thing better, forever. Expand your options, seek out new avenues, and always try something new."

"Try something new, huh…" Ash nodded along to Diantha's words, before thanking her and stepping back.

Serena was astounded, shocked to a complete lack of words. In all her time knowing Ash, she'd never seen him like this: So, vulnerable, so willing to admit weakness. All of this, just so he could grow stronger, be better?

Serena wanted to be better.

Making a fist, Serena steeled herself, gulping before she stepped forward. Her burst of confidence caught the eye of Diantha, just as she was about to leave. Instead, she paused.

"Ma'am, before you go, I just wanted to say, thank you," Serena began, her eyes locked to the ground for a good moment before she looked up.

"Whatever for, chérie?" Diantha's curiosity seemed piqued, and her cool and confident demeanor made Serena even more nervous.

Yet still, she inhaled, and continued.

"For showing me, a different kind of Pokémon trainer," she explained, her words catching Diantha off guard. "Elegant, charming, and beautiful! And yet… still strong. It's the kind of trainer I could see myself being, one day."

Serena's words settled in with Diantha for a moment, before her smile returned.

"Then I should expect to see you alongside Ash in the Kalos League in due time, yes?" she suggested, now catching Serena off guard.

Scratching her head, she gave an awkward laugh.

"Heh, I'm not sure about that."