Brock looked curiously at his friend sitting across from him, who however didn't say a word and simply stared out the window. He had already noticed that no one was there, yet the boy didn't seem to budge an inch.

What a bizarre attitude.

"Earth calling Ash. Are you still with us?"

"Huh?" he turned around, as if he had never been with his head in the clouds.

Brock offered him a smile "I expected you had more to say about your adventures…"

"Sorry…"

"You don't have to apologize, it's just weird, so I wanted to know if there's something bothering you!" Brock reassured, shaking his head. "You've been so quiet since Serena left. Are you worried about her?"

Ash gave an embarrassed smile "No,"Liar"I'm sure she'll be able to get close to Weepbud."

"What makes you so sure?"

At that question, the raven-haired could only laugh openly, as if the answer was the most obvious thing in the world "When she's convinced of something, Serena goes all the way."

"She reminds me of a certain someone." Brock teased.

"Who?"

"Guess!" Most of the people they had traveled with were pretty stubborn, but it was obvious that he was referring more to the person in front of him. After all, who could have influenced Serena like that?

Ash chuckled, "It's also because when Serena caught Sylveon, when it was still an Eevee, she had to handle it carefully. It was a very shy Pokémon and was afraid of so many people and Pokémon."

"Shyness and trauma are unfortunately different things." The doctor sighed.

"I wouldn't underestimate her, though. Serena has this ability to communicate with people and Pokémon and reach them… in every sense," the boy insisted. And he knew it very well. Serena had always had the ability to touch the hearts of those who felt vulnerable, or to get through the hard shell of certain people.

He knew perfectly well that she could do it. She was strong, in so many ways that he struggled to emulate.

Which is why at that moment it frustrated him so much that he couldn't do anything for her.
What had happened that afternoon during her performance… had left him truly shocked. Not that making a mistake was a big deal, that was perfectly human, that wasn't what had worried him.

It was seeing her standing there, motionless, with that expression that he still had trouble deciphering.
As if something was hurting her, or rather, as if she were terrified.

Like that Weepbud.

He hadn't had the courage to stop her, because when he saw them face to face, he realized that Serena perhaps understood that Pokémon in some way.
He didn't want to admit it, but the idea scared him, for what it implied.

He was really trying, he wanted to give Serena the time and space to figure out what to do, but as time went by, more and more details came out that seemed to worsen his ideas of what could have led her to interrupt her journey in Hoenn.

Had she perhaps had a bad experience with a Contest? At this point it seemed likely, but how bad?
It shouldn't have mattered, because it didn't change the fact that he would support her and that somehow she would make it. He was sure of it.

But seeing her like this hurt. In a unique and never-before-seen way.

Maybe though… that meeting could help not only Weepbud, but Serena herself.

He hoped so…

…

"Why can't I go back to normal!?"

Those words sounded so familiar that Weepbud couldn't move away any further.

Did that girl… really understand what she was feeling? But how could she? She didn't know what she had been through, she didn't even imagine how large and persistent the shadows that were chasing her were.

Maybe she had shadows that she was trying to escape from, too. And the idea that she wasn't the only one consoled her as much as it saddened her.

"She looked out over the clearing where she had been before, finding the girl curled up and sobbing, while her Pokemon consoled her.

The bud walked toward the shore, not daring to cross, but with hesitant care she whispered, "Wee Wee?"

Immediately, but without any sudden movements or jerks, Serena's head rose and they found themselves looking at each other.

The surprise was not missing from Serena's voice, although she murmured softly, "I'm fine, thank you. I just needed a moment to vent." She wiped away her tears a little, "Sometimes it's better to cry than to keep it all inside."

She hoped that Weepbud would understand that there was no need to be ashamed of her reactions to fear.

"I'm Serena… and these are Pancham, Sylveon, and Braixen, my partners."

The three Pokémon greeted, but limited themselves to small nods. They were much more interested in their trainer's mood, but their calm response was just fine for Weepbud.

"W-Weepbud…" the wild Pokémon seemed to return the greeting.

Serena offered her a smile. "Did you like what we were doing today?"

Weepbud nodded shyly.

"It makes me happy! Even though it wasn't one of my best performances…" The girl admitted. "You know, lately I've been having some trouble when I'm in front of a lot of people."

"Wee?" the little creature tilted her head shyly. Why?

"I had an unpleasant experience a while back," she explained, clearly saddened by having tomention that fact, even if not completely transparent on it. However, she felt that in order to make Weepbud understand that she could understand her, she needed to open up a bit.

"Bud…"

"You must have some bad memories too, right?"

Weepbud didn't answer that question, but her avoiding Serena's gaze was more than enough of an answer.

Serena knew very little about that Pokémon and her instant feeling of wanting to help her was perhaps inexplicable, but what was clear was that her performance had helped her in some way.

That was why she had decided to improve herself as a performer, to be able to make people smile.
She had always made it clear that her focus was on entertaining herself and her Pokémon and at that moment she was really struggling to do so, but maybe she could do something for that Pokémon.

After all, they had told her to focus more on the audience, right?

It probably wasn't what Palermo intended, nor did she want her to sacrifice her own involvement in what she was doing, but in that moment Serena couldn't help but feel like her comfort was a necessary sacrifice.

"How about we try a few moves together?" she suggested, seemingly shocking not only Weepbud, but her Pokémon as well.

"Xen?" "Cham?" "Veon?"

"Yeah, you seemed to enjoy watching us, didn't you? It's definitely more fun to participate! And when you do something you love, your mind can help you tolerate everything else. If you could perform in front of people, it would be easier to interact with them even when you're not, right?"

The logic behind that reasoning was flawless, except that it didn't apply to Serena herself.
Or at least not recently, since what had happened was about performing. Back when she was traveling in Kalos, that had truly become her way of learning about herself and growing.

It had been a great method for Sylveon too.

Looking at Weepbud's frightened face, Serena clarified, "You don't have to come over here. You can copy our moves or improvise. Or you don't have to do anything at all! You can just watch us and enjoy the show."

If that could earn a smile from the Pokémon, it would be worth it.

"We…" She actually wanted to see it again. She didn't know if it was the right choice, but it was definitely something she wanted to experience again.

"Perfect then!" Serena declared, standing up, "Braixen, Sylveon, Pancham! Do you feel like trying again?"

Up until that point, the three Pokémon didn't seem very convinced by the situation, much less had a good feeling about Serena's intention to risk her comfort for someone else's pleasure.

However, that smile she was showing them was the most genuine she could show in the circumstance. So, with a nod, they agreed.

"Something that isn't too popping," the girl reasoned. She didn't want to scare Weepbud, who had gotten so close and was willing to stay.

"Okay…" Serena breathed deeply.

She started with a pirouette, followed closely by Braixen "Sylveon, use Fairy Wind!"

Sylveon began to run around the two, alternating somersaults and graceful hops, while a light wind swirled around. It almost seemed as if her movements were flowers blooming.

Pancham then jumped towards Serena, and using his hands as a trampoline he jumped high. "Cham!"

Up and down, one somersault after another, it seemed like a game.

"Okay, now Sylveon uses Swift, and you Pancham uses Ice Punch!"

With a greater thrust, Pancham flew high into the sky, while Sylveon settled beneath him, launching a wave of stars in his direction. "Veon!"

Pancham turned upside down and charged his fist with freezing force. "Cham!"

When his paw collided with the stars, they shattered, multiplying into thousands of glowing fragments. They looked like actual fragments of frozen comets.

It was a sight for sore eyes, those few and simple moves that creatively combined and colored their "stage".

It was a very improvised routine, but it contained the whole sense of what the Showcases would truly represent.

Not just a combination of moves that were based on appearance, but becoming one with the Pokémon and combining their unique skills, personalities, tastes and expressive capabilities with those of their trainer.

Having fun and making people have fun, transporting people into the performance and making them feel part of it.

That was what Serena loved.

And that was what she had felt she had missed for so long.
When she had searched for this feeling. Maybe she had tried so hard to get it out, that she had forgotten where it came from.

"Now Braixen, use Fire Blast!"

"Baiiixenn!" Braixen lit her stick and shot a star of fire that went to disintegrate the fragments, leaving in their place sparkling droplets that fell one after the other on the grass.

Even if Weepbud could speak human language, she would never have found the words to describe how enchanting that scene was.

She felt every fiber of her body asking her to move, to get up. Her heart was not telling her to run away, but to come forward and participate.

She wanted so much to continue to feel that feeling of fun, wonder, which was probably even infinitesimal compared to what they were feeling.

Step by step, without even really realizing, she found herself with her little paws in the stream and suddenly she was on the other side.
Right at Serena's feet, who was hand in hand with Braixen, dancing happily.

When Serena looked down and saw Weepbud trying to spin around unsteadily, the girl stood beside her with Braixen and began to spin on one foot, slowly and gracefully.

"Whee?"

"You have to let yourself be light, like floating in the wind!" she explained enthusiastically, opening her arms and twirling.

Weepbud tried to imitate the movement, but her stiffness made it difficult to complete the spin without losing her balance.
Noticing, the girl winked at Sylveon, who nodded with a smile and released a light Fairy Wind.

At first, the breeze scared the wild Pokémon, but soon it felt like a hug that was carefully directing her towards the right path.
It felt like flying…

That breeze that made her feel so light, helped her to spin until her muscles relaxed and she ended up spinning on her own.
When she managed to get back to the starting point, Weepbud couldn't contain the feeling of euphoria and satisfaction that had overwhelmed her.

"Wee Wee!" she exulted, letting a smile paint her face.

Serena's eyes shone when she managed to see that sweet smile, the one that should have been much more frequent than a fleeting occasion.

"Good girl! Have fun! Let yourself go however you want!"

How beautiful...

And finally an amused laugh came out of Serena's mouth, fully involved in that free and innocent dance that all five of them were doing.

...

It had been a long time since Serena had gone in search of Weepbud and although Ash had tried countless ways to keep himself busy, his patience finally ran out.

Brock was even amazed at how long he had managed to resist, a clear sign that Ash had grown so much since the last time they had seen each other.

But Ash remained Ash and so did his temperament.

They finally set out to find the girl, before the boy could explode from internal combustion.

"I don't understand why you're so worried, this reserve is very safe!"

"I'm not worried!" Ash immediately denied, feigning offense "I just don't want her to miss dinner!"

"Oh, sure…" Brock replied sarcastically.

"I'm serious! And with Team Rocket around…" the raven-haired boy muttered unenthusiastically, digging his hands into his jacket pockets.

Brock stopped dead in his tracks when he heard those words "Team Rocket? Are they still after your Pikachu!?" It shouldn't have been that surprising, considering they had been stalking Ash and Pikachu for over 4 years, and he had witnessed it himself. But he had hoped it wasn't like that anymore…

"They never stopped. And recently they've become a little aggressive. I don't know, but they seem much more determined. Both Serena and I have come close to seriously getting hurt in their recent attacks."

It was true, even if Ash was worried about something else, he wasn't particularly comfortable with the idea of the three scoundrels attacking when someone in his group was alone.

Not that they hadn't been a real threat, they had often come close to doing real damage, but they had never seemed like the biggest threat of their journeys.

Now they seemed much more desperate, in their attempts to capture Pikachu and he couldn't help but wonder what was driving them to do so.
And how far they would go.

"Well, I think that if something had happened we would have noticed. Those three tend to be particularly noisy. Plus Serena has her Pokémon with her." He put a hand on Ash's shoulder… and noticed with a certain sense of nostalgia how much taller it was compared to the last time he had done that.

Ash sighed "Yeah, you're right."

"Of course I'm right-" he started to chuckle, then stopped.

"You okay?" Ash asked, but when Pikachu also pricked up his ears and jumped off his shoulder, he realized that they were close to something, whatever it was.

"Pika!" the little mouse pointed and from above some trees, Tweeny appeared.

The little bird descended towards his trainer, chirping "Tweeny!"

"Did you find them?" Ash asked hopefully, and the Pokémon's confirmation was good news. "Great, lead us to her!"

With Tweeny as their guide, the two walked through the trees, crossing a rather dense part of the forest. Apparently, it was a place where Brock and the other workers rarely went, given the difficulty of getting through all those twisted branches.

However, when they finally found themselves past the most difficult part, Tweeny stopped and flew until he was resting on the ground.

"Huh? Why did you stop?"

"Twwwe…" the bird chirped softly, raising his wing in front of his beak, as if to tell them to be quiet.

Ash and Brock's initial confusion soon disappeared when, leaning just a little beyond the bushes, they saw the beautiful scene before them.

Serena was performing… and Weepbud was there to watch!

There were several reasons why the two did not move, why they let the performance continue without interruption.

Maybe it was the enchantment of that enthusiastic dance, finally seeing the girl smiling serenely in her ideal environment. Or maybe it was seeing that it really had an effect on the wild Pokémon and was bringing it closer than anyone had ever managed to get.

Then Weepbud came over and started dancing with them.

If Brock's jaw could have come off his face, it would have touched the ground.

"Unbelievable..."

"See? I told you Serena could do it!" Ash chuckled elatedly. Of course, he should have known. Once again he had clear proof before his eyes of how amazing Serena was.

Brock smiled "And what a performance..." Really beautiful, it was a whole different genre compared to the Contests. From the explanation, they seemed very similar, but in truth only by looking could you notice those glaring differences. "Now I understand why you were so excited to see her"

Ash nodded "Serena has worked so hard to get where she is, so it shouldn't be surprising. Yet every time she manages to bring out something unique in her performances."

"It really is if she managed to make you passionate about something so different from your usual style"

"Showcases are a lot of fun, so it's not that strange, but it's true that she manages to make me feel super involved when she participates!"

The way Ash talked about Serena, so passionately, was something odd to Brock.
Not in a bad way, on the contrary, but it was rare for him to spend so many words to praise someone. He was always one who tended to demonstrate with facts.

And even in all the Contests they had seen of their friends, Ash had never been so excited to that extent.

At that moment, from his look at the girl, one thing was very clear; he really cared a lot about Serena.

"What do you say? Should we go back to base?"

"Yes, let's go back." Ash nodded in agreement, with one last smile, before stepping back and letting Serena and the others continue to have fun.

…

So they danced and had fun for hours, until the sun began to set.
They were exhausted, but that tiredness made them feel lighter, somehow.

"I'm out of shape!" Serena exclaimed "I'll have to make up to it…"

Yes, because even though there were still problems to solve, she didn't want to give up that feeling.
Even if it meant performing without an audience.

But Weepbud needed an audience…

"Listen Weepbud, I know it may seem like a step too far, but how about performing with us again? This time in front of someone"

"W-We?" She murmured, anxious at the idea.

Sylveon, Braixen and Pancham also exchanged an uncertain look.

"It's just a test, to see if it can help you! You can give up at any time." The girl offered. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do."

It was always better to take small steps, but they had to understand how small.

The Pokémon thought silently.

The idea was truly terrifying and going from two dance steps together to performing in front of people who she couldn't approach until a few hours before seemed absurd.

But she didn't even believe she could get close to that girl... Serena, and instead there she was at his feet, with no desire to escape.

She only knew that she didn't want to live the way she lived anymore. She wanted to experience what she had felt that afternoon again.

"Bud." She nodded, still uncertain, but less fearful.

"Great!"

...

Finally, the group returned to the base. As soon as they entered the automatic doors, an intoxicating scent reached their noses.

After all that activity, they were even hungrier than usual.

"Oh? Welcome back!" Ash greeted immediately intent on running towards the girl. However, his pace slowed considerably when he saw who was hiding behind her legs. With a friendly smile he knelt down, not getting too close "And welcome to you!"

Weepbud was initially speechless, and raised her head in search of some confirmation from Serena. So far she was the only one who no longer gave her that desire to escape, so she felt safer with her.

The girl nodded kindly "Ash is my friend and traveling companion. He can be very loud sometimes, but you can trust him"

"Hey, I can be very delicate!"

All the Pokémon present, except Weepbud, and especially Sylveon, gave a half-hearted look towards the boy, who found himself overwhelmed by that wall of disapproval.

The small wild Pokémon managed to come out a little more into the open and with a small nod of her head gave her silent greeting.

That was already a big step forward.

Ash stood up "Brock is in the kitchen, he's going to be so surprised!"

"Hmm, and then he's going to have another one!" Serena announced optimistically.

"Oh, yeah?" Ash cocked his head, curious. He already knew that Serena had managed to involve Weepbud in her performances, but he wondered if by chance she intended to show it to everyone.

This confused him more than anything. He was willing to give her the time she needed, and given what had happened he thought he would have to wait much longer…

"Hm!" She confirmed smiling, perhaps too much.

And her gaze fled from Ash's.

Before she could continue towards the kitchen, Ash's hand grabbed hers and stopped her.

At first they didn't speak, perhaps because Serena already knew what her friend was about to say.

In fact, he struggled to find the right words. "I…-I just wanted to remind you of what we talked about when we arrived in Forsia. About communicating…"

"..."

"I don't want to force you, so I won't. But I also don't want any misunderstandings between us, you know?" He clarified. He didn't want to lose sight of the girl's face every time he looked at her. He didn't want her to run away… he wanted her to feel comfortable, whether she confided in him or not.

"I don't want that either..."

"Great. I just wanted to let you know that whatever happened today, it doesn't change anything we said and all I care about is that you're doing good, okay?"

"I'm sorry-"

"Don't apologize, you have no reason to." He interrupted her, more serious than usual, taking her other hand as well. He looked her straight in the eyes, to let her know how much he really cared that she understood. "If anything, I'm the one who should apologize for pushing you so hard to do something you didn't feel comfortable doing."

Serena shook her head "No, I wanted to. It's just that-..." she tried to simplify as much as possible, knowing that she was absolutely not ready to tell the guy the full version, if she ever would have been. "I've developed some stage fright, I guess."

"Oh." He expressed surprise.
He knew she was leaving out a lot of stuff, but it was something.

Thinking about it, this must have been a big deal for a performer.

"You don't have to worry about it! It's not as strong as it used to be!" Her words failed to reassure him, so she quickly added, "It was a surprise when all those people showed up this afternoon, but I think I can handle it if I try again! I just have to get used to it."

"If you say so…"

"And I think Weepbud can open up more thanks to Showcases! So why not take advantage of that?"

Oh, so she was pushing herself to get used to it, for the sake of Weepbud.

He wasn't sure if that was the right way to go about things like that. He wasn't an expert, and he couldn't give professional advice.

It was clear from the expressions on Serena's Pokémon's faces that they didn't like the sense of sacrifice their trainer had adopted, but in the end, he himself would probably have acted similarly.

He wasn't in a position to judge her, and who knows? Maybe it would have actually worked!"

"Well… I guess it doesn't hurt to try."

Serena smiled, taking advantage of the support Ash was offering her.
He wasn't disappointed, just worried for her.

She would try not to worry him anymore. "Thanks…" she returned the squeeze Ash gave her hand. "Really."

The boy felt a slight tingling in his stomach, while a warmth that started from his hands spread throughout his body.
He tried to control the uncontrollable urge to smile like an idiot. "You're welcome…"

"Ah, Serena here-" Suddenly Brock appeared from the kitchen, apron still on and ladle in hand.

However, he was lost for words when he noticed the scene in front of him.
He didn't know whether to be more surprised by the presence of Weepbud at Serena's feet, or the fact that it seemed to him like he was watching a scene from a rom-com, with Ash included.

His professionalism should have favored the former without question, but what could he do? These scenes weren't seen every day.

"Did I interrupt something…?" He didn't even believe what he was implying. It had to be a moment taken without context.

"Of course not!" Ash immediately shook his head. "I was just congratulating Serena on managing to bring Weepbud here… eh eh!" He pulled away comically, then took the girl's hand again and shook it like two businessmen.

Pikachu's facepalm was more than expected "Pi Pikachu..."

Once more, strange... but Brock decided to believe him. "That's really surprising. You really did a miracle, Serena! Are you sure you're not a Pokémon psychologist?"

Serena blushed slightly at the compliment "I just think it was a lucky coincidence that I'm dedicated to something that could help Weepbud. I managed to make her dance with me and I'd like to try again later... as long as you don't mind a second experience at a homemade Showcase!"

"I'd say I don't mind at all!" If she had managed to do so much, it was worth giving her trust. Besides, Ash believed in her and knew that his friend usually knew how to judge people. "But first you have to fill your stomach! Recharge your batteries!"

"Ah, my favorite phrases!" Ash exulted, patting himself on the stomach. The gesture ended up making Weepbud hide behind the girl's legs again, leaving the boy mortified "S-Sorry..."

"Well, little steps, right?" Serena said, reassuring him. "After all, we've been through this before, right?"

"Yes..."

Seeing that understanding, Brock wanted to ask what they were referring to for a moment.
However, he held back.

For some reason, he felt a slight uneasiness in his stomach...

...

Once they had finished eating and tidying up, they all moved to the same place where Serena had performed that afternoon.

Ash and Brock had informed all the other workers and were slowly gathering to watch the performance.

Serena, Braixen, Pancham, Sylveon, and Weepbud were in a circle, ready to discuss the choreography.
You could tell that their nerves were a little tense, especially the little newbie. Noticing, Sylveon brought her ribbon closer and patted her on the head.

She knew exactly what she was feeling, she had been there, and even if their doubts had different causes, in the end they had to be treated with the same patience and kindness.

"Okay… are you sure you want to do it, Weepbud?"

The Pokémon nodded "Bud bud."

"Okay. Then I think I know what to do!" And she began to explain their choreography.
It was an experiment, so it was only right that the choreography was one too. It would be a test on multiple factors.

A test to be able to see those smiles again. That of Weepbud, of Ash, of his dear friend Brock and of all those who had come to see them.

Once the preparation was finished, the five got into position. Serena looked carefully at all those faces, but tried not to count them, limiting herself to focusing on Ash, who offered her a thumbs up and an encouraging smile.

She smiled back and gave a small bow of introduction, then turned to her Pokémon and Weepbud. "Let's go!"

Nee, kimi ni tsutaetai koto ga aru n da
Itsu mo boku no senaka
wo oshitekurete arigatou!

"Pancham uses Stone Edge!"

"Paaaan cham!"

Stone pillars emerged from the ground, in a circular pattern. Braixen soon jumped up, landing on one of them and making it disappear in a shower of diamonds.

"Xen!"

Serena and Weepbud began to dance around the pillars, which disappeared as they went, disintegrating above their heads.

Aa, subete tsutaekireyashinai kedo
Hitori ja nai tte omoeru n da yo

Once all the pillars had vanished, Braixen jumped to the ground and prepared a Hidden Power.
Sylveon, who had been doing some acrobatics in place, in the center of the circle of pillars, released her Fairy Wind, which picked up the spheres of Braixen's move and raised them towards the sky.

Kurai yoru ni mayoikonda tte
Nando demo koronda tte

Serena then looked down at Weepbud, encouraging her to act.
The Pokémon didn't know what to do in that case, Serena had given her freedom except for a few small tips.
But at that moment, her heart was giving her directions "Weeebud!"

Sugu tachiagaru kara
Maketakunai kara
Akirametakunai kara

A Magical Leaf took off and joined the spheres, slowly popping them as they collided with the leaves.
And when the magical wind died down, everything above them continued to sparkle.
It was shining like a sky with stars that were blinking on and off.

And it had only taken a small contribution to light up such a beautiful sky.

Serena and Weepbud turned to the audience, feeling all those eyes on them for the first time…

But this time, instead of seeing so many blurry faces, dark and intense faces, their expressions shone like the sky above them.

Kirakira kirakira hikaru
Pikapika poketto ni chutchuchu
Saikou no jikan, taisetsu na nakama
Zenbu dakishimete

Weepbud had never felt anything like this. All that attention should have made her feel heavy, yet it was as if every negative feeling disappeared, vented in that liberating dance.

Ironic.
She was really doing it…

"Weepbud, are you up to continuing?" Serena asked softly, and immediately the Pokémon turned around.

She smile, "Bud!"

Serena couldn't help but smile back. How happy she was, she had done it.
And that smile deserved to shine as often as possible.

Kurukuru kurukuru mawaru
Kizu wa waraitobase rattatta

"Pancham!" Serena called out, and the Pokémon already knew what to do.

It ran toward Sylveon, who threw him up with her ribbons, and prepared his Ice Punch, just like he had that afternoon.

"Sylveon, use Protect! Braixen, prepare your Flamethrower!"

"Sylv!" The fairy-type fox activated its protective barrier around the group that remained on the ground, and when Pancham's icy fist collided, the entire surface began to be covered in a layer of ice, like a sphere.

Everyone who remained below was obscured by the audience, while Braixen began to grow her flame.

Kimi to kawashita ano yakusoku
wo hatasu sono toki made

It was the right opportunity for Serena to take a deep breath. It was going well, very well in fact. Weepbud was having fun, she hadn't had the need to run away and instead, she wanted to continue.

And her? How did she feel?

Her heart was beating fast, too fast, and she was a little short of breath. But it wasn't an unbearable sensation. She could feel that sense of satisfaction and fun that had abandoned her for so long.
Maybe it wouldn't always be like this, maybe in front of a larger audience the problem would come back, but this was a step forward.

She couldn't wait to get out in the open and admire those smiles turned towards them.

Itsu mo zenryoku de furikaerazu ni,
susume susume susume!

The sphere from outside began to light up with various bright colors, reflecting them all around like an aurora.
Braixen's fire was like the centerpiece of a beacon of hope in the darkness.

Hashiridashita mune no dokidoki wa,
yamanai mou tomaranai

Pancham landed with his feet on the sphere, holding his paws open in exhilaration, watching as the audience admired the scene in amazement.

Yes, they would never force Serena to do something that would make her feel bad, but he, Sylveon and Braixen had also missed that feeling.
So seeing Serena happy made them happy. And so did everyone present.
This was what they dreamed of and chased.

Itsu mo kimi wa kimi no omou mama ni,
susume susume susume!

"Weepbud?" Serena called thee Pokémon, who was actually starting to feel a little exhausted.

It was normal, for a first attempt she was doing more than anyone could have asked for. Not only as a performance, but also as a step towards recovery.
Having fun was nice, but sometimes you also needed a little peace and quiet.

Time to wrap up. "Can you make one last move?"

"Wee!" Weepbud nodded.

"Okay, then go with Ingrain!"

The little roots came out of Weepbud "Weeeee!" And they started to wrap themselves around the sphere, instead of the ground, making it grow on the protective walls, which began to shatter.

The cracks multiplied until the frozen sphere disappeared, leaving only roots in its place, like a hazelnut from which life was born.

It was the birth of a new path.

Dakara boku mo boku ga omou mama ni,
tada mae e to arukitsuzukeru kara

Serena opened her arms, and when the applause broke out, a weight left her chest.
She couldn't help but meet Ash's gaze, overcome with enthusiasm, and he tried to let her know how happy he was for her with a nod of his head.

"Finished!"

...

The events that followed passed so quickly that when she woke up the next morning, they seemed like fleeting memories.
Everyone had congratulated them, from a distance, for not overload Weepbud, and then Serena's group had collapsed as soon as they found the bed in the room kindly offered by Brock.

When Serena finally opened her eyes and woke up, finding Weepbud curled up beside her, she couldn't help but smile.
It had taken so little to make giant improvements and it had even helped them both.
It may not have been the final solution and hoping to have magically solved everything was pure utopia, but they had to start somewhere.

She looked around and saw that she was still wearing her travel clothes. She felt ashamed, having fallen asleep as soon as she laid down, with the excuse of wanting to rest for a few minutes.

However, the blanket on her legs proved that someone had covered her in her sleep…

She shook her head, slowly getting up and heading towards the bathroom. She washed herself and tidied up, then left the room and headed towards the kitchen.
She didn't know what time it was, but to thank Brock for his hospitality she would prepare some poké puffs.
It would be a great reward for everyone and a sweet gift for Weepbud.

After all… sooner or later she would have to leave for her journey again.

"Good morning!" Brock's voice greeted her in the kitchen "Did you rest well?"

"Good morning, very well! Thanks again so much for your hospitality. And I'm sorry I collapsed last night..."

Brock chuckled "It's fine. You must have been exhausted!"

"Kinda was. Oh, do you mind if I use the kitchen to make some baked sweets?"

"Go ahead! Although after what you did for Weepbud this reserve should be grateful to you for life. You shouldn't even lift a finger as far as we're concerned!"

"You give me too much credit, it was a good coincidence that she liked Showcases and that's exactly what I do." She belittled, not seeing much merit in what she had done. Besides, she had gained something from that experience too.

"I assure you I have rarely seen things like this and those few times it was always Ash who was responsible!"

Ah, well that didn't surprise her "Ash has always been a great inspiration. He has this natural desire to help others... as if his body moved on its own. It may get him into trouble, but he can't just help it."

"Sometimes you can't help but admire him, other times he leaves you frustrated," Brock continued, agreeing with the sentiment.

"Exactly. But without him, my journey would have been very different. I have my own path, of course, but walking it side by side with him makes everything much more… more!" she laughed, "And he's a person who, despite his flaws, makes you get closer to him."

Brock had experienced it precisely in a period where many people would have found Ash an arrogant and annoying brat. Yet, despite his enormous inexperience and audacity, kindness and charisma shone through and that had led him to want to join him.

And if he had continued to stay by his side for so many years, there was a reason.

Now he could only wonder if it was the right choice to get separated.
Of course it was on a career level, because he had found his dream and it had been necessary to separate from Ash. He would not go back on that.
But hearing about the adventures Ash had been through and seeing him for the person he was now, he felt like he had been left behind somehow.

Like he hadn't done enough.
It was crazy to admit, but he was sad he couldn't be a part of those experiences too.

He wanted to show Ash how far he had come. He wanted to impress him. "Yeah…"

"You know, sometimes I try to picture what it was like to travel with him for years and watch him grow as a trainer and person. I think you've been really lucky," Serena admitted, her cheeks slightly red.

Huh? "Really?" Funny, because Brock thought Serena was lucky to have been there for what seemed like Ash's peak.

"Sure. I think a lot of people, including me, admire Ash, but I think it's also a special experience to witness the journey he's been through. The person he was is just as special as the person he is today. All of his growth, every success and failure."

"I assure you that Ash has also been able to do… his worst," Brock laughed, remembering some of the boy's antics.

Serena shook her head, giggling, "I had the opportunity to see some of Ash's truly worst sides, and even though it's hard to admit, I went into crisis at that moment. But then over time I understood that if Ash behaves in a certain way, it's because he's human. Even he makes mistakes and it's thanks to those mistakes that he can always improve."

Brock didn't know how to respond to those words so true and heartfelt.

"It's easy to admire a person only for their good points, I made the same mistake until I met Ash again and traveled with him. When you understand the negative sides, you appreciate the positive ones in between even more."

"..." Brock was so surprised by the sincerity and genuineness with which Serena spoke about Ash. She had traveled with him for a year, a little more, and yet it seemed like she knew him thoroughly.

"Anyway!" Serena interrupted his thoughts. "Back to Weepbud, do you think she'll get used to it sooner or later? Will she go back to the wild?"

The doctor's face became thoughtful. "I think she's definitely improved, but I don't know if she's ready enough to be released. Not to mention that you're leaving with Ash again today. She opened up thanks to you and the Showcases…"

"Oh…"

"Why don't you catch her?" The sudden proposal surprised the performer.

"What? Catch her?" She thought out loud. "But you said that Pokémon from the reserve can't be caught."

Brock began to speak seriously, bringing out his professional side. "Theoretically, you couldn't, but if catching her is necessary for the cure, it might be necessary." Despite Serena's doubtful expression, he continued. "The facts say that performing helps her feel better and you're a performer. Plus, she's quite comfortable with you. I'm sure you can help her a lot."

"I would love to have her on the team, but what if she doesn't want to be caught? What if I make mistakes?" It was a huge responsibility.

And it wasn't just that. Serena still didn't know if she was able to fully perform like she once did. Brock didn't know, but it was a big issue because if not able to stay on the stage, she would destroy Weepbud's path of recovery.

Yet, she had decided to put herself again on the line for the Pokémon. So she couldn't really go back on that.

"I can't guarantee she wants to be caught, because it's not a given that her trauma isn't related to that, but it's still an option to consider. Sometimes patients refuse treatment and then the question arises whether to impose it or not." he crossed his arms. He wasn't sure it was the best solution either, but now that there was a glimmer of light, it was obvious he wanted to take advantage of it. "I'd hate to force it, but which is worse? Capture her for her own good, perhaps against her will, or let her soul dissolve in this place?"

Brock didn't want to be harsh and Serena could clearly feel that. He was speaking that way because he cared about Weepbud's fate and he wasn't entirely wrong.

The problem for Serena was that this step could be traumatic and destroy a difficult achievement and those hopes that Weepbud herself had probably built.

"I…" Serena didn't know what to do, although capturing wild Pokémon was common practice, it still didn't seem right in Weepbud's case. "No..."

"Serena, at least think about it-" Brock tried to dissuade her.

The girl was adamant, however, "I can't do it, not without Weepbud's consent. It would go against what I believe in and my way of being a trainer. To work in a group, you need harmony and you can't get it by forcing someone in."

Weepbup had the right to choose her own destiny and capturing her with the risk of traumatizing her was not that different from her own choice to stay at the reserve anchored by trauma.

She wouldn't be truly free.

"Weepbud was able to open up because I didn't force her to do anything and because I gave her the opportunity to follow her dream the way she wanted. What kind of trainer would I be to destroy that trust I've earned just because I pretend to know what's best for her?"

"...I understand..." Brock agreed with the reasoning. It was a difficult situation, because the morally correct choice could mean condemning her as well as the opposite.

"Bud."

The two turned around, finding Weepbud at the entrance to the kitchen. She walked slowly, shyly, but her gaze was that of someone who had heard everything and had something to say.

"Weepbud-" Serena tried to explain, hoping that she hadn't misunderstood what she had said.

"Bud. Bud." She came closer "We bud, weep weep!"

"Uh…?" Serena couldn't understand right away, but it had to be what she had said to Brock. "Did you hear everything?"

The Grass-type Pokémon nodded "We bu bud"

Serena knelt before Weepbud "You know I don't want to force you to do anything, right?"

Again, an affirmative answer.

"So," Serena smiled "would you like to come with us?"

Weepbud didn't answer immediately and Serena didn't rush her.

It wasn't an easy choice. "I can't promise you that there won't be any scary moments or things that can make us feel sad, but if you want, we can face them together. Then it will be easier to get up and be happy. What do you say?"

It was hard to believe it and maybe she couldn't predict the future, but Weepbud knew that she had never felt as good as she did with that girl.
She could continue to live the way she had until the day before, or she could take the opportunity.

Maybe it wasn't the healthiest relationship in the world, the way it had started, they probably still had a lot of work to do to bond outside of performances, but Serena was a kind girl, patient and treated her so well.

And she wanted to stay by her side for some reason...

So if they could both be happy, she would.

"Pwee!"

Serena took a deep breath in.

So that was it. She couldn't go back anymore.
Weepbud was placing her trust and future on her, so from that moment on she would have to do her best to not let her issues condition her Pokémon.
She would have to do it, but she was willing to try.
For her Pokémon and for herself.

With her heart lightened, Serena took out a pokéball and put it on the ground. "They tell me that it's comfortable inside but if you're scared, you can come out whenever you want."

Weepbud carefully looked at the ball. Once she did, going back would be difficult, but right now, she didn't want to take any more steps back. Only forward.

Then she touched the button with her little hand and in a second she was sucked inside.

One touch…
Two touches…
Three touches…

And a click.

Serena carefully took the pokéball in her hands and brought it close to her chest "I promise I'll take care of you!" she promised, hoping that she would feel it from the inside too.
But from the small vibration she felt in her direction, she could hope.

She turned to Brock, who with a sigh of relief shared her joy "I'm really happy for you! She's in good hands, I'm sure of it."

"Thanks, Brock!"

It wasn't exactly how she had planned to propose to Weepbud to join her, but she was grateful that it had happened.

"Huh? What's going on here?" Ash appeared, his hair still messed up.

Serena and Brock exchanged a knowing look. "Tadaaa!" the girl showed, holding out the ball and freeing the Pokémon.

"Wee!" Finding herself in front of Ash, the little grass-type Pokémon immediately ran to Serena, but waved shyly.
Sooner or later she would have to get used to him too, since he was traveling with her new trainer.

Ash was speechless, pointing at the Pokémon. "Huh? When did this happen!?"

"Just now!"

"And I missed it!?" He exclaimed in scandal.

"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu shook his head.

Serena's Pokémon also approached in surprise, mostly in a positive way. They greeted Weepbud kindly, and she managed to get close enough to return the paw squeezes.

Of course, in the end it wasn't just Serena's merit, but their entire family.

Now hers too…

A new family…

…

"So, here we are." Ash announced, even though it wasn't really necessary.

It hadn't lasted long, but it had been nice.

"Yeah… it was nice to see you again, Ash. And it was nice to meet you, Serena!" Brock squeezed Serena's hand "Please, keep him out of trouble!"

"Hey!"

"That's a tough one, but I'll try. I'll help him out of it!" she laughed, ignoring her friend's fake pout.

"Good luck with your Showcases and you Ash with your gyms. Show them what you've got!" Brock wished, hoping that this would be the right time for his friend.

He would support from a distance.

"Of course! And you keep doing what you're doing! You'll become a great doctor." Ash encouraged, holding out his hand. "See you then, huh?"

Brock nodded with a smile, even if there was a hint of bitterness in his tone of voice "See you." He squeezed his friend's hand, with the strength of someone who wanted to express a lot more.

Who wanted to thank him for everything he had done for him, even without knowing it. Who wanted to encourage him and at the same time worry about him.

It didn't go unnoticed, because Ash gave him an understanding, reciprocal smile.
Their friendship had lasted for years for a reason and as used as they were to living it side by side, it wouldn't fade even with the distance between them.

Their hands left each other and Brock watched his old friend and his new friend walk away.
The hand that had been holding Ash's a few seconds before, tightened into a fist and vibrated slightly.

And so, seized by an overwhelming instinct, he ran a few meters forward and raised his arm in the air "Take care, Ash!"

He hoped for the best. That he would succeed in what he dreamed of, whatever that would be, and that he would reach the heights he deserved, even if he couldn't scale them with him.

Ash turned and returned the wave, followed by Serena "You too!"

"Pika!"

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