Serena savored the cool sensation when she wiped her sweat-covered face with a rag dampened from the river in front of her and Fennekin. Both had finished their morning run, and Fennkin looked up at Serena with a longing expression as she whined over her soaked fur.
"I've got you, Fennekin." Serena beamed a bright smile and placed Fennekin into the stream. Fennekin purred in delight during her bath despite her nature as a fire-type. Serena likewise hummed in a spirited tune with each stroke until she rubbed Fennekin dry with a towel. "There, nice and clean. Come on. I'll brush you back at the campsite."
"Fenn!" Fennekin's bushy tail wagged fast in Serena's arms. It only took them a minute or so before they got back to the camp. There, Serena saw Clemont and Bunnelby against a tree gasping for breath and soaked from head to two in sweat. Bonnie stood over them, hands on her hips with an iron expression.
"You're pathetic, brother. You quit after an hour, but Ash and his team are still going strong." Bonnie shot a finger across the campsite where Ash trained. Serena giggled a little with Fennekin at Bonnie's scolding of Clemont before her eyes fixed on Ash.
"That's it, keep it up!"
"Grou!" Ash wore a pair of boxing mitts and blocked incoming punches and kicks from Riolu. The little aura pokemon howled in delight with each blow. Ash kept up with his newest pokemon and even mixed in a few strikes of his own to keep Riolu on edge. Serena giggled again, and her cheeks turned a little pink when she saw Ash's training. She sat down against a tree and brushed Fennekin, who purred and nodded off to sleep amid her grooming.
"Iron Tail, Dragon Tail! Cut, Peck!" Ash directed his other pokemon even as he sparred with Riolu. Pikachu and Charizard clashed with each other and shook the surrounding tree branches and bushes with their blows, while Froakie and Fletchling did the same but with much less impact. Serena's eyes remained fixed on Ash despite her diligent brushing of Fennekin. The passion and enthusiasm on Ash's face and every move filled Serena with a sense of delight as if his dedication spread to her. Serena pictured herself with Fennekin before a vast crowd who lit up in joy and happiness from their performance.
"Hmm." Serena almost dozed off when a harsh thud snapped her and Fennekin awake. Both saw Ash's right mitt go backward while he grinned.
"Awesome, I think you just learned Feint."
"Grou!" Riolu threw his fist into the air and panted.
"Alright, that's enough for now, Riolu. Froakie, your turn."
"Froak." Froakie nodded with a broad smile and hopped over. However, Serena saw Riolu's excitement contort into a fierce growl full of unmistakable envy.
"Grou!" Riolu shouted and tried to get in Froakie's path. However, Ash gave his youngest pokemon a stern look alongside Pikachu and Charizard, who backed him up.
"Riolu, Froakie gets his turn with me too, then Pikachu after him."
"Grou!" Riolu growled before Charizard picked him up and carried him away.
"Grau." The fire lizard's much deeper growl had little effect on Riolu, who puffed up his cheeks when he saw Froakie spar with Ash and then Pikachu a few minutes later. Charizard did his best to instruct Riolu but the little pokemon kept up his rebellious demeanor.
"He wants Ash all to himself." Serena thought to herself. She giggled a little upon realizing that her and Riolu had some things in common. Ash's training went on for another hour, during which Serena finished grooming Fennekin then helped Clemont make breakfast.
"Fenn." Fennekin breathed a little more fire to stoke the flames under the pot. Serena glanced back at Ash every few minutes, but the intensity of his training did not slow even as sweat soaked him and his team as if they emerged from a lake.
"Ok Ash, breakfast is ready!" Serena cried.
"Great, thanks!" Ash led his team over, except Riolu who crossed his arms and threw his head up in protest.
"Riolu you need to eat, stop acting like a brat."
"Pika, Pikachu."
"Grou." Riolu grumbled before his stomach growled loud enough for people across Kalos to hear him. Riolu held his stomach and almost doubled over before Ash picked him up.
"Come on. You worked hard, which means a big breakfast." As Ash approached, Serena's bright smile faded and she slapped both hands over her nose.
"Gaah, Ash, you stink!"
"Fenn!" Fennekin growled as she did the same.
"De!" Dedenne likewise hid in Bonnie's satchel.
"So stinky!" Bonnie yelped.
"Ehh? It was just a training session." Ash muttered and felt a sweatdrop form down his face as Serena gave him a stern look.
"Clean up first."
"Hmm, hmm, hmm. There's no need, not with my latest invention!" Clemont adjusted his glasses then pulled the sheet off what looked like a robotic spray can. "With the magnetic scent restorer, I can pull off all your odor without-"
"No!" Ash yelped and backed up with his pokemon. "We'll clean up on our own."
"But, but I wanted to test, eh!?" Clemont screamed as his device surged with electricity.
"Grauu!" Charizard slammed it away with dragon tail and the group watched it explode in the distance.
"Another failure brother." Bonnie groaned and Clemont fell to his knees. Bunnelby patted his back. Serena breathed a sigh or relief but then almost jumped out of her skin. Back where he trained, Ash pulled off his exercise shirt and revealed his muscular upper body soaked in sweat.
"Clean us up, Froakie." Ash said and Froakie smiled before he blasted him with water gun. Ash took out some soap and cleaned himself up before shifting to Riolu who cheered up a little. At least until Ash moved on to Pikachu, Fennekin, Charizard, then Froakie himself. Serena, however, turned bright red and steam shot out of her ears before she collapsed onto her back.
"Eh? Serena, are you ok?!" Ash shouted while Fennekin likewise nudged her trainer's head. Serena's eyes spun in swirls with a goofy smile on her face.
"It's too good to be true." She muttered while Bonnie flashed a bright grin toward Serena. That was, however, until she hardened her expression at Clemont.
"Brother, why don't you look like that?"
"I, I." Clemont stuttered.
After breakfast, the party got underway, heading up a road along Route 4. There Ash and Pikachu took in the beautiful forest around them and its many pokemon. A wide grin emerged across Ash's face with each new entry to his Kalos pokedex.
"Umm, Ash, we're heading to Lumiose city. But what about after that?" Serena asked a hint of angst in her voice.
"Huh. I actually haven't thought about that. I'd love to challenge the gym leader, but Clemont says he won't challenge me without four badges first."
"Right." Clemont chimed in with similar nerves in his voice.
"Well, if you're looking for a gym to battle, we could always head west toward Cyllage City." Serena's bright smile returned as she took out an information pad and showed it to the others. "It's along the western coast. Lumiose can take us too it, plus there's plenty of boutiques and shops I wouldn't mind visiting along the way."
"It's settled then. We'll head to Lumiose, then Cyllage City." Ash said with a raised fist.
"Yay! Take me shopping with you!" Bonnie screamed and hugged Serena's hand.
"Serena, if you don't mind me asking, why did you start your journey if you're still not sure of your path?" Clemont asked. Ash saw Serena's angst return for a moment, but she clasped both hands together and, with fiery passion, turned to him.
"Huh?"
"Pika?" Ash and Pikachu shared the same blank expression as Serena approached and placed the handkerchief from the day before in his hand.
"I saw you on TV battling that Garchomp and jumping off to save Pikachu. I recognized you and wanted to return this." Serena's tone softened in a way Ash had never heard from any girl he traveled with before, at least not toward him. Before he could ask, Ash took a closer look at the handkerchief. Something was familiar about it, and the longer Ash stared, the more the sensation grew.
"Wait!" Ash almost shouted, and his eyes widened. At that moment, the memories flooded back into his head.
At six years old, Ash searched the woods near Pallet Town. He had become separated from the other campers and Professor Oak in a desperate search for that day's pokemon of study.
"Poliwag! Poliwag, where are you!?" Ash cried with intense determination. He searched behind every bush and scaled more than one tree in search of his target but only found a few Caterpie and Pidgey. "I won't give up. There's no way Gary beats me again!"
Ash jumped down from the branch, ready to continue his search, when a soft voice wailed in pain. It was not a pokemon, but a human.
"Huh?" Ash listened closer until the voice returned, now distressed.
"I didn't even want to come here, papa, mama!"
"Hello?" Ash almost jumped through the bushes and saw her. A little girl his age with fair skin, bright blue eyes, and shoulder-length honey-blonde hair lay on the ground with a scraped knee. She wore a pink dress and straw hat, which did not conceal her tears even as she clenched her eyes shut the moment he came out.
"It's ok. I'm not going to hurt you." Ash eased his stance a little, and the girl opened her eyes again. "Are you a camper too?"
"Oui." She muttered in a strange accent.
"I'm Ash. What's your name?"
"Serena."
"Nice to meet you, Serena. Are you looking for Poliwag too?"
"No! I got lost, and he jumped out at me. Now I can't get up." She sobbed, and Ash took a closer look at the scrape on her knee.
"Hmm, I've got just the thing for that." Ash reached into his pocket and took out a blue handkerchief from his pocket. "My dad gave this to me. He said to believe in it, and I'd find strength." Ash wrapped it around her injured leg with a toothy grin.
"There you go, now believe you can stand up, and you will, Serena."
"I, I can't." Serena moaned as she tried but fell back down.
"Don't ever say that! My dad told me that no matter how many times you fall down, always get back up. He says never give up until the end! Come on!" Ash took Serena by the hand and got her to her feet. The little girl wobbled and almost fell back down, but Ash held her upright.
"See!" Ash grinned again and did not notice Serena's pink face and glittering eyes. "Come on, Serena, let's get back to camp." Taking Serena by the hand, he led her out of the woods.
"Ahh! Serena, it is you!" Ash almost yelped, and Serena's face beamed bright pink. A goofy smile expanded across her face, and Ash noticed Bonnie's grin.
"You remembered me after all these years?"
"Oui, I could never forget you, Ash! Then when I found out you were here in Kalos, I wanted to meet up again. But you didn't remember." Serena's smile faded, and her cheeks puffed up into a pout.
"Well, I." Ash gulped and tugged at the collar of his jacket with a sizable sweatdrop across his face.
"Pikachu." Pikachu did much the same, and soon both saw Bonnie glaring up at Ash with the same stern expression she gave Clemont.
"Ash." She huffed. Before Ash could try and remedy the situation, he noticed Pikachu's ear twitch.
"Pika? Pika!" Pikachu cried.
"Pikachu, what's?" Ash was cut off when the ground shook.
"What?" Serena and the others turned back toward the road ahead when her face turned pale at the sound of a few pokemons' cries. "No way?!" She muttered, and Ash realized that he, too, recognized the cry.
"Rhyhorn!" Just as Ash predicted, six Rhyhorn came charging towards them. However, these were not wild Rhyhorn but mounted ones with saddles and numbers on their sides. Six men and women rode the rock pokemon, each wearing a different colored jumpsuit, helmet, and goggles.
"Stampede!" Ash cried.
"No, a Rhyhorn race!" Serena corrected Ash.
"Ahh! Brother!" Bonnie screamed before Clemont seized her in his arms and dove off the road. Ash likewise grabbed Serena by the hand and pulled her to safety moments before the pokemon charged past them. He grunted upon impact but breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Serena unharmed.
"Serena, are you ok?"
"Oui, I-" Serena's face turned bright red upon realizing she was lying on Ash.
"Not again! Is everyone ok!?" A familiar voice snapped Serena out of her daze, and she almost jumped off of Ash. Moments later, they saw an Officer Jenny drive up on a motorcycle.
"We're fine. What was all that about?" Ash asked as he rubbed the back of his head.
"I'm sorry, I thought this road was marked off. The Odyssey Village Rhyhorn race practice is going on today."
"Rhyhorn race?"
Jenny led the party to a sizable farming town below the hilltop where they stood. Ash took in a great racing track that led into the forest, and dozens of Rhyhorns corralled in pens.
"Welcome to Odyssey Village. They host regular amateur Rhyhorn races." Jenny said.
"I've never heard of Rhyhorn racing." Ash noticed Serena's shocked expression.
"Really? They're quite famous here. Rhyhorn races have six contenders." Serena went into greater detail about how the races.
"Wow, you really know a lot about Rhyhorn races, Serena."
"Oui, well, my mom was quite a famous Rhyhorn racer when she was younger. She's retired now but still made me practice." The joy vanished from Serena's face and voice when she mentioned the last bit.
"Wow, you're the famous racer Grace Yvonne's daughter!" Clemont and Bonnie's eyes lit up, and Ash saw Serena's expression dour even further, and she avoided their gaze.
"Oui." Serena's cheerful voice was almost unrecognizable.
"Serena, are you ok?"
"Huh, ahh, I'm fine!" Serena gave a sheepish smile and waved her hands around as she sweatdropped.
"Are you sure?" Ash came closer, but Serena nodded.
"Oui."
"Ok." Ash was unconvinced but decided against pressing the matter. "Yvonne." Ash pondered the name and thought he had heard it before.
"Pika!" Pikachu broke Ash from these thoughts and pointed back to the racers who practiced with Rhyhorns. Another memory flooded Ash's mind, and he saw himself six years earlier riding Lara's Rapidash in the Big Pokemon P Race.
"Officer Jenny, is the race open to anyone?"
"Oui, this is for ameauters."
"Huh? Ash." Serena muttered and saw his eyes light up in a fiery passion that extended into a grin.
"I'm gonna race tomorrow!"
"Ehh!?" Serena yelped with Clemont and Bonnie. Pikachu, however, nodded in approval.
"It sounds fun. Serena, you could teach me the basics."
"Me? But I, I-"
"Come on, Serena. You're the one with experience in this. Please." Ash's eyes met Serena's, and he did not notice her body tremble.
"Ok."
"Great! Thank you!"
Within a few minutes time, Serena emerged from a changing room near a Rhyhorn coral. She donned her pink Rhyhorn racing suit her mom forced her to pack. However, for the first time, Serena was excited to wear it.
"Ta da!"
"Ahh, Serena you look so pretty!" Bonnie squealed.
"Merci, I made a few modifications since I left home, like these hearts." Serena pointed to the decorations on her waist, then turned toward the next changing room door.
"Ash, what do you think?" She watched him emerge in a blue racing jumpsuit with Pikachu on his shoulder.
"These fit well. Alright, let's get started." Ash grinned, brimming with confidence. He and Serena entered the pen after Ash let his other pokemon out to watch. More than a dozen Rhyhorn resided inside this pen, but Ash honed in on one which drank from a trough.
"There he is. Time to say hello." Ash put on his friendliest smile and approached the Rhyhorn. He had seen plenty of Rhyhorn before in his travels and kept his pace slow, careful to make any movement that could startle him.
"Ash, wait!" Serena cried, and Ash saw the Rhyhorn's eye lock onto his. Ash froze when the rock pokemon lowered its horn and took an aggressive stance. Ash blinked in surprise. He had approached Rhyhorns and even Rhydons like this without incident before.
"Easy Rhyhorn, I'm a friend." Ash kept his hands raised, but the rhyhorn huffed.
"Grou!" Ash sweatdropped and looked over at Riolu, who tried to charge Rhyhorn, only for Pikachu to hold him back with an exacerbated expression.
"Ash, these are racing Rhyhorn. They're specially bred and behave differently than most wild or battle Rhyhorn. They're trained from an early age to act more aggressively if you don't approach them in a specific way. Like this." Serena held her right hand out toward Ryhorn and walked with the left side of her body a little of ahead of the rest. Ash watched with a sense of awe when Serena reached Rhyhorn without incident. She knelt down beside the pokemon's head and caressed him with a gentle pet that eased rhyhorn into lowering his horn.
"Groo." Rhyhorn gave a wide smile and licked the side of Serena's face.
"So cute!" Bonnie cried.
"Amazing, I never knew Rhyhorn could be so gentle." Clemont added.
"You really know your stuff, Serena. That was incredible." Ash threw an excited fist up as he spoke,
"Pika!"
"Fletch!"
"It's, it's nothing." Serena's voice trembled, and she tried to keep her scarlet cheeks hidden. "Just things my mom taught me. You try."
"Right." With a deep breath and a renewed sense of confidence. Ash held his hand out and walked like Serena. To his delight, the rhyhorn remained docile and nuzzled his hand after a pet. "Perfect." Ash grinned but then blinked. For the briefest moment after touching Rhyhorn's head, Ash experienced a fainter version of the premonitions with Froakie. In that instant, it was as if Rhyhorn's cheerfulness and trust flowed out of him. However, the sense vanished, and Ash decided he had imagined it. Serena, though, blinked and rubbed her eyes in disbelief, for she thought Ash's eyes had flashed blue for a moment.
"Ok, now mount him like this-" Serena started but almost gasped when Ash got into the saddle without incident.
"I've ridden a Rappidash before in a race."
"Really!?"
"Yep, I'll have to tell you all about it sometime." Ash laughed a little, then, without warning, took Serena by the hand and pulled her up into the saddle behind him.
"Eh!?" Serena almost screamed and shook as if in frozen water.
"Eh?" Clemont likewise jumped backward in disbelief while Bonnie beamed and Ash's Pokemon watched with intrigue.
"I might need your help with guiding him. Rhyhorns have to be different than Rapidash."
"Oui." Serena stuttered. So much steam escaped her ears that she was afraid of melting. However, when Ash kicked off, Rhyhorn jerked ahead, and Serena had to wrap her arms around him to stay upright. This continued as Ash's attempts to lead the rock pokemon proved fruitless.
"Hmm, he doesn't seem to respond to me. Serena, what am I doing wrong?" Ash looked back to see Serena in pure rapture with a goofy smile as her hands wrested across his abdomen. "Serena?"
"Huh? Ahh! Oui, you're not guiding him right!" Serena tried to regain her composure, but Bonnie and Ash's Pokemon giggled, in particular when they saw Ash look none the wiser.
"Ash is so dense."
"What do you mean?" Clemont appeared just as confused, and Bonnie shrugged.
"So are you brother."
"Ok, now try to guide him more than force him in one direction." Serena took the reigns, and Ash felt the change in an instant. Ryhorn let out a relaxed noise and then followed her direction.
"Wow, Serena you're really good." Bonnie held her hands up to her cheeks.
"This is amazing."
"Merci. My mom is far better than me, though. I-" Serena's eyes went wide when she felt the way Rhyhorn moved. "Oh no. Rhyhorn, no-"
Serena and Ash screamed together when Rhyhorn started bucking with a cry of glee. Both riders tried with all their might to stay on Rhyhorn's back but to no avail. With a final buck, Ash and Serena tumbled to the ground with a thud. Ash landed first, then grunted when Serena fell on top of him.
"Ouch." She moaned. Ash likewise groaned and rubbed the back of his head until his eyes opened and met Serena's. Both stared at each other in the realization of their position.
"Ahhh, are you ok?" Ash gave a sheepish smile and sweatdropped. His face turned a little red, but it was nothing to Serena, who was on the verge of melting again.
"I, I-" She stuttered, unaware of Serena's giggling and Clemont's pale expression.
"Groo!"
"Eh!?" Serena's eyes went wide, and she watched in utter terror as every Rhyhorn in the corral turned on her. Their eyes all turned to hearts, and with a thunderous cry, they charged Serena, who screamed.
"Not again!"
"Serena!" Ash tried to get up and protect her while his pokemon rushed inside. However, they stopped in their tracks with thick sweatdrops down their heads. Clemont and Ash soon joined them, for all of the Rhyhorn started licking Serena, who laughed beyond her control.
"Ha ha! Come on, that tickles!" Despite her pleas, the Rhyhorn did not let up, and she fell back down onto Ash. Both of their faces turned red, and they avoided each other's eyes.
"I'm sorry." Serena tried to get up, but the Rhyhorns forced her back down again and again. "Good Rhyhorn! Good Rhyhorn!" Bonnie raced out and started petting them. Pikachu, Froakie, Fletchling, and Charizard all watched the situation unfold and looked at each other.
"Pika. Pikachu."
"Froak."
"Grauu."
"Fletch."
"Pika." Ash nodded and smiled with the others at Ash's bashful expression. In all the years they traveled together, Pikachu never saw Ash look at any of the girls he traveled with like this.
"Grou!" Riolu tried to help Ash again, but once more, Pikachu held him back. By the time sunset came, Serena had rested against the fence.
"I'll need to wash this now." Serena and Fennekin looked over her dirty jumpsuit. Despite this, an unmatched sense of glee tickled Serena and kept a bright smile on her face even hours later.
"Have fun helping Ash?" Bonnie appeared below her with a large smirk. She caught Serena off-guard, but after a moment, the young woman composed herself.
"I'm glad I could help him get the hang of it."
"Hang on, Ash!" Clemont's cry turned their attention back to Ash, who remained in Ryhorn's saddle despite his bucking.
"I think I've got the hang of it now!"
"That's it! Go for broke!" Serena let the fire inside her stomach out but blinked in shock at how much passion she let flare up. The young woman stared at Ash with dreamy eyes but allowed them to shift upon Rhyhorn too.
"Hmm, maybe they're not so bad."
Later that night, as Ash and the others slept in the pokemon center, Serena remained up with Fennekin in the kitchen. The little fire fox wagged her bushy tail to the rhythm of Serena's stirring of cookie dough. Despite everything that happened that day, fatigue had yet to set in on her, and Serena carried on as if she had just woken up. It was a rather odd phenomenon that a day of Rhyhorn race training would leave her so invigorated. However, she realized it was not that which left her so excited.
"I hope he likes these." Serena beamed to Fennekin as she poured the dough onto a sheet and then placed it in the oven.
The following morning, Ash petted his racing Rhyhorn's head as Serena showed him and earned a firm nuzzle from the pokemon.
"What do you think, Rhyhorn? Ready to race!?"
"Groo!"
"Pika!"
"I see someone's ready." Serena giggled and revealed herself on the other side of the fence with Clemont, Bonnie, and Ash's other Pokemon save Pikachu, who rested on his shoulder.
"We are ready, all thanks to your training, Serena." Ash stroked Pikachu's head and did not see Serena's pink cheeks.
"It was nothing. You put the hard work in." She clasped both hands together and tried to keep her tone consistent.
"You guys be good for Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie." Ash turned back to his other pokemon, except Riolu, who grumbled and puffed up his cheeks, eyes fixed on Pikachu.
"Aww, it's ok Riolu. We'll keep you company." Bonnie picked up Riolu and hugged him while Dedenne came up and nuzzled him.
"Grouu." Riolu muttered, with an exhausted expression on his face.
"This your first race, son?" An older voice reached Ash's ear, and he turned with the others to the racer beside him. An aging man with graying brown hair and eyes in a yellow racing suit caressed his Rhyhorn's chin.
"Yes, but we'll do our best, right Rhyhorn!"
"Groo!"
"Indeed." The man gave Ash a warm smile and nodded. "You certainly have the spirit of a racer. Good luck, and try not to get yourself hurt."
"Gaah!" Ash heard Clemont and saw him stagger backward in awe.
"Dr. Justus! It's really you!" Clemont jumped over the fence in a feat of athleticism that caught Ash off-guard and the others, too, by the looks of their expressions.
"Dr. Justus, I'm a big admirer! My name is Clemont!"
"Brother, who is this?"
"Who is this!?" Clemont turned pale and crestfallen as if the answer were obvious. He adjusted his glasses and threw both hands over the man. "This is Dr. Justus. He is at the forefront of robotics in Kalos!"
"I'm but a humble robotics scientist, I-" Justus started but sweatdropped when Clemont revealed his robotic Aipom arm, which held out a notepad.
"Dr. Justus you have inspired so many of my creations, including my Aipom arm. Please, may I have your autograph!?"
"Oui, one moment." Dr. Justus took out a pen and wrote despite a barrage of questions from Clemont about robotics.
"Dr. Justus, if you're a scientist, what are you doing here?" Ash asked.
"Rhyhorn racing is a hobby of mine. I like to come here in my off-time and race with Rhyhorn." Dr. Justus patted his Rhyhorn's head. "A good way to get some fresh air and exercise."
"Racers, mount your Rhyhorns!" A voice cried over the loudspeakers.
"Well, here we go. Best of luck, Ash." Dr. Justus put on his goggles and climbed into his Rhyhorn's saddle.
"May the best racer win." Ash grinned and almost jumped into Rhyhorn's saddle.
"Ash, do your best!" Bonnie cried.
"Remember everything you learned yesterday!"
"Ash, ask Dr. Justus if I can ask him more questions after the race!"
"Hang on tight, Pikachu."
"Pika, Pikachu."
Ash guided Rhyhorn to the starting line beside Justus and the others. His heart raced in anticipation with each passing moment until a starting gun shattered the tense silence.
"Go!"
"Groo!" All six Rhyhorn burst from the starting line and charged down the dirt track.
"Woah!" Ash and Pikachu held on for dear life. Rhyhorn's speed took them by surprise, given the pokemon's immense size. Ash thought back to his race on Rapidash years earlier and how smooth it was riding them. Rhyhorn rocked Ash with each step forward, but Ash cried out with Pikachu in support. Despite the intense experience, Ash remembered what Serena taught him and guided Rhyhorn, who kept pace with the others.
"Not bad, kid, not bad." Dr. Justus flashed Ash a smile which he returned.
"Go Ash!" Serena cried above the rest of the crowd alongside Ash's other pokemon. Her heart raced like the Rhyhorns, in particular, after Ash and the others disappeared into the forest trail.
"Ahh, how do we see them now?"
"Grou!" Riolu growled in agreement with Bonnie.
"Don't worry, they have that covered." Clemont pointed to several television screens showing the racers. Serena gripped the railing tight, for Ash remained in neck and neck for third place. Just then, the screens all went black, one after the other.
"Huh?! Ash?!" Serena gripped the railing until her hands went numb and she hyperventilated. The same sense of terror that constricted her breathing when she watched Ash fall from Prism Tower.
"What happened!?" Clemont yelped and similar panicked mutters broke out across the crowd.
"Odd, I should investigate." Officer Jenny jumped onto her motorcycle and rode off into the forest. While this seemed to put much of the crowd at ease. Serena enjoyed no comfort, nor did Ash's pokemon by their expressions.
"Grou!" Riolu tried with all his might to break free of Bonnie's grip. Froakie likewise gripped his hands much like Serena and stared at the forest.
"Grauu!" Charizard did not wait. He seized Froakie and Riolu, then put them on his back before flying after Jenny.
"Charizard is right, we can't just sit here. Come on!" Serena led the others into the forest, despite Clemont's protests of Bonnie staying behind.
"Come on, brother you're falling behind!"
"Please! I'm dying!"
Meanwhile, Ash and the others kept up their race through the forest when Pikachu's ear twitched.
"Pika, Pikachu!" Pikachu growled and sparked his cheeks.
"Huh? Pikachu, what's wrong-, gaaah!" Ash, the other races, and all seven pokemon cried out from an ear-splitting noise that sent their senses into a violent storm. It did not take long for Ash to recognize it as a supersonic attack, but far louder and from multiple directions.
"Pikachu, thunderbolt!" Ash threw his hand out toward the nearest source of the attack, and Pikachu unleashed his electric move despite a confusion effect sending his sight out of focus.
"Chu!" With Ash's help, Pikachu struck home, and the sound faded as Pikachu hit one adversary after the other and shifted to the other side. After a minute or so, six Golbats lay on the road shaking with swirled eyes.
"What was that about?" Ash almost fell out of the saddle with Pikachu, and Rhyhorn did not help. He, too, stumbled about and bumped into the other confused rock pokemon.
"What's going on!? Is anyone hurt?" A familiar voice cried out. Ash and Pikachu just made out Officer Jenny approaching on her motorcycle when a series of smoke grenades went off all around them.
"What the?! Who's there!? Manectric, find them!" Jenny threw out a pokeball, and Ash watched a Manectric sniff out something amid the smoke before disappearing inside.
"Pika." Pikachu growled despite his confusion.
"Pikachu what is-" Ash did not finish. A series of grass-type moves crashed into the Rhyhorns one after the other. Each cried out in terrible pain and then collapsed onto their sides. "Rhyhorn, gaaah-" Ash grunted upon impact. He and Pikachu hit the ground alongside the other racers.
"Halt!" Officer Jenny drew a pistol and ran after her Manectric into the smoke. Ash tried to get up, and his heart pounded when he heard a series of gunshots followed by a scream of agony from Jenny.
"Jenny!" Just as Ash and Pikachu got to their feet, something shoved them back down. "Gaah!"
"Pika!" Both thrashed about as something constricted their arms together like a coiling Seviper.
"Hey!? What is this?" Dr. Justus grunted with the others, who suffered the same fate as Ash. Then, they saw her. Officer Jenny stumbled forward with her Manectric, both beaten and battered.
"Ohhh." Jenny collapsed beside Manectric.
"Guns, so primitive." The familiar voice sent a shiver down Ash's spine, and he soon understood why Pikachu growled. Bryony revealed herself alongside a Liepard, plus six men and women all dressed in the same identical red suits and shades. Each of the grunts had grass pokemon beside them.
"You!" Ash growled.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the brat who spoiled my plans in Lumiose." Bryony adjusted her shades and revealed a robotic third arm, much like Clemont's Aipom arm. The metallic limb held Jenny's gun and twisted it like a pipe cleaner.
"What do you think you're doing!?"
"Hmp, as if I'd divulge the plans of Team Flare to the likes of you. On that note, however, I still have to repay you for Lumiose, brat." A malevolent smile grew over Broyny's face, and the robotic arm on her back aimed toward Ash.
"Pika!" Pikachu sparked his cheeks but could not get electricity past himself with the binding on him. Ash grit his teeth and thrashed like an angry Primeape but to no avail. Soon, Bryony loomed over him with Liepard in front of Pikachu.
"Rhyhorn!" Ash cried, but his racing pokemon remained on the ground.
"Goodbye brat-" Bryony's robotic arm reached for Ash's neck when a jet of fire flew down straight for her.
"Gaah!" Bryony and her Liepard staggered backward while Ash and Pikachu likewise flung themselves to the ground. Intense heat enveloped the forest pathway, and the various Team Flare Grunts ordered their grass pokemon onto the attack. However, more flames engulfed these moves and scattered the pokemon.
"Charizard!"
"Pika!"
"Grau!" Charizard shook the ground upon landing in front of Ash and huffed smoke at Team Flare.
"Froak!"
"Fletch!"
"Grou!" Ash's other three pokemon each embraced in, but Riolu tried to push the other two away.
"Guys, am I glad to see you. Can you get me out-" Ash stopped when another barrage of moves flew their way. "Flamethrower!"
"Grauu!" Charizard burned the grass moves to a crisp, but he and Ash saw Liepard move in with Sucker Punch.
"Steel Wing!"
"Grau!" Charizard blocked Liepard's blow and then shoved her back. However, the violet cat disappeared into the smoke and then struck again. Charizard breathed more fire at Ash's command, but Liepard kept retreating. Soon he issued orders to the rest of his team, who fought off a Pansage, Roselia, and Gloom. Fletchling dodged poison and sleep powders from Gloom, then blasted her back with Ember. Froakie likewise evaded a storm of pedals from Pedal Dance, then came in for two successive cuts. Finally, Riolu parried two scratch attacks from Pansage just as Ash taught him to.
"Force Palm!"
"Grou!" Riolu and Ash's eyes flashed together when the aura pokemon slammed his palm into Pansage's face and sent him sprawling onto his back.
"Pika!" Pikachu shouted, encouraging his teammates. However, Ash saw the other three grunts moving in from behind.
"Now we've got you!?" The ground shook, and to Ash's delight, Bunnelby shot up with a furious expression.
"Mud shot!" At Clemont's command, Bunnelby pelted the Flare Grunts and their pokemon with mud.
"Ahh! Our suits, our hair!" The men and woman groaned.
"Ash!" Serena's voice reached Ash despite the chaos, and he saw her racing toward him with fiery determination in her eyes.
"Serena!" Ash's eyes met hers, and she seemed so closer. However, one of the grunts broke off to intercept Serena with another Gloom.
"I don't think so, girl. Gloom use Acid."
"Gloom." Purple acid sprayed toward Serena, who jumped backward. However, the young woman refused to give up and hurled a pokeball forward.
"Fenn!"
"Fennekin use Ember!"
"Fenn!" Fennekin spat out a series of small flames, but the Gloom let out a thicker acid that absorbed them.
"Fennekin, look out!" Fennekin jumped aside with Serena, and the grunt snickered.
"Hmp, just what I thought, a girl playing trainer, nothing more. Gloom, drown them in acid."
"Serena, you have to believe in Fennekin! Have her break Gloom down with tail whip first!" Ash's fiery passion lit a flame inside Serena and Fennekin, who looked upon each other.
"Ash is right. We can do this! Fennekin, use tail whip!"
"Fenn!" Fennekin dodged the incoming Acid and then wiped her tail across Gloom, who backed up, a little shaken.
"Now hit her with Scratch!"
"Gloom, use Absorb!" Despite the Grunt's attempt, Fennekin clawed her Gloom, who stumbled after being weakened by tail whip.
"Acid!"
"Ember-" Serena started, but she saw Ash shake his head.
"Flamethrower, tell her to use it."
"Eh? But she hasn't learned it yet!"
"Trust me!" Ash saw it in Fennekin's eyes. She was ready. Serena tightened her grip and, trusting Ash, cried.
"Flamethrower!"
"Fenn!" Fennkin unleashed a jet of fire, much smaller than Chairzard's, but a jet none the less which consumed Acid, then Gloom.
"Ahhh! Gloom!" The grunt held her hair as Gloom lay on her back, eyes swirled.
"We did it. We won!"
"Fenn!"
"Great job, Serena!"
"Pika!"
"Hold on Ash, Pikachu!" Bonnie appeared behind Pikachu and worked on his bindings with Dedenne. Serena soon came up beside Ash and likewise worked with Fennekin to free him.
"Grauu!" With a well-placed Dragon Tail, Charizard slammed Liepard back through the smoke.
"Pika!" Pikachu sprung up and sparked his cheeks.
"Pikachu, thunderbolt!"
"Pika chu!" Pikachu fried all six Flare grunts, who collapsed onto the ground. However, when the smoke cleared, Bryony and her Liepard were nowhere to be found.
"Alright, we won!" Serena cried. The excitement overwhelmed her, and she found herself hugging Ash, who was too busy reuniting with his team to take notice.
"Eeep!" Serena yelped, bright red in the face. She jumped off Ash, who turned upon her with pride in his eyes.
"You and Fennekin did great, Serena."
"I, we, thank you." Serena stuttered before Fennekin jumped into her arms.
"Ahhh! Dr. Justus!" Clemont shrieked.
"Huh?" Ash and the others looked back and soon realized only four other racers remained. Dr. Justus, just like Bryony, was gone.
"Ehh!?"
That evening, Ash and the others returned to the Pokemon center, where Nurse Joy looked after the six Rhyhorn. Clemont was sobbing as he gave his statement to a second Officer Jenny, and her deputies, who arrived in place of the local Jenny, who was still recovering.
"Please, you have to find him!" Clemont fell onto his knees and pleaded while Bonnie sighed.
"Brother, get up."
"I hope he's ok." Ash sighed. Serena nodded and sat across from Ash at a table.
"Ash, I thought you raced well, despite what happened." With a nervous smile, Serena reached into her bag and pulled out a smaller sack.
"Huh? What's?" Ash found his question answered by the delicious scent.
"Cookie!?"
"Oui! You put so much effort into training. I thought you might like them." Serena tried to hide her blush but soon saw Bonnie alongside Ash's entire team.
"Guys, thank Serena, this was very kind of her."
"Grau!"
"Pika!"
"Fletch!"
"Grou!"
"Froak!"
Serena savored the look of delight on Ash and his Pokemons' faces as they ate her sweets.
"So delicious!" Bonnie added with an equally enraptured Dedenne. She tried to offer one to Clemont, but he proved too distraught by Dr. Justus's kidnapping to partake.
Serena thought back to Ash's encouragement about her and Fennekin. He was right about her being able to use flamethrower. That battle invigorated Serena, but more from directing Fennekin. Even if she did not know what her dream was, Fennekin was part of it. Not only that, but Serena was certain. Ash would help her find it.