Kiawe hefted a large bag of Pokémon feed up onto his shoulder and glanced back at Charizard. His Pokémon was easily carrying the other five bags in the order, holding them against its sides with its arms. With a grin, the man from Alola started walking around the main building so he could store the new supplies in the shed.
As he rounded the side of the building, Kiawe caught sight of Ash returning from working with some of the forest dwelling bug Pokémon. Ash's Charizard was walking a few steps behind him. Trainer and Pokémon had some stray threads of sticky String Shot clinging to them. Ash had told him that they were going to clear out a part of the forest which had been gummed up with webbing and was nearly impassable. It seemed that they had been successful.
"Hey, Ash," Kiawe called out, directing a nod his way.
Ash waved in response and came to a stop next to the shed. Kiawe stepped up to the closed door and set the bag of Pokémon food on the ground. The dark skinned man from Alola then turned to his friend and spoke in an eager voice.
"They just dropped off the shipment of Pokémon food. They also brought more construction supplies for the house."
Ash smiled. "Hey, that sounds great. They should be bringing a bunch of railroad ties tomorrow along with the usual stuff."
Kiawe looked a little surprised. "Railroad ties?" he said in a perplexed tone.
Ash nodded. "Yeah, we had a pretty big storm about a month ago. There was a landslide in the valley near the lake. There's still a bunch of debris there I need to clear and after that I'm planning to build a retaining wall to keep it from happening again."
Kiawe smiled and nodded in approval. "That sounds like a good idea."
While Ash and Kiawe talked about the work to be done, Kiawe's Charizard looked over at Ash's specimen. The two fire type's eyes met and Kiawe's creature smiled in a sly fashion before it let out a deep, confident grunt. It hefted the heavy bags of Pokémon food under its arms, allowing its powerful muscles to bulge in the process. The Pokémon from Alola relished that it was currently carrying a heavy load while Ash's beast had just returned from the laughable work of singeing spider webs.
Ash's Pokémon grunted in indignation and raised an eyebrow. It was never one to back down from a challenge, no matter how small.
Ash opened up the door of the shed and the two men started lugging the bags of food inside. It was another hot day and Kiawe was wearing only his shorts. Ash was wearing his usual blue shirt but had switched to shorts for a change. Both of them were sweating by the time the job was finished.
Ash secured the shed and let out a satisfied sigh. "Okay, we just need to see about some food for the steel types and then I think I'll do a bit more work on the house."
Kiawe pursed his lips and thought for a moment. In the few days he'd been working on the reserve he'd learned about dozens of Pokémon and how to care for them. Ash had been teaching him nonstop. His respect for his friend from Kanto had grown immensely and he was eager to help him out in any way he could. Because he was essentially Ash's student, Kiawe felt a little bashful over boldly speaking up; however, he swallowed his nerves and did so.
"Hey, Ash, why don't you let me take care of feeding the steel types. That way, you can work some more on the house."
Now it was Ash's turn to purse his lips as he considered the proposal. He'd been working hard on the house the last few days. He'd gotten the framing up for the entire first story and was getting ready to start putting in the floor joists for the second story. In the back of his mind, he was hoping he could get all the framing done before Serena got back from Kalos.
"Well…. sure, why not," he said after a short pause. "You've seen what I've been doing."
Kiawe nodded and smiled. "I'll get it done." He eagerly clinched a fist and then continued in a determined voice. "I'll also start on clearing that debris. Charizard and I will get it done in no time."
Ash smiled and chuckled in an amused fashion. "Okay, go for it!" he replied.
Kiawe looked fired up. He turned toward his Charizard and addressed it in an impassioned manner.
"Okay, let's get all this done! There's still plenty of daylight left!"
Kiawe's Charizard grinned eagerly, happy to have more work to do. It then cast a sly look at Ash's Charizard, asserting its seemingly superior work ethic.
Ash's Charizard glowered in response. Some steam billowed out of its nostrils and its eyes narrowed.
Kiawe was just turning to go when a pair of young voices rang out from the direction of the main building.
"Hey, Mr. Ketchum!" a boy called out.
"We're back!" a girl shouted.
A surprised expression crossed Ash's face and he turned to look at the new arrivals. His surprise turned into happiness when he spotted Terence, Cyril and Gwyn all jogging toward him, across the grassy field. Ash grinned subtly when he saw Gwyn's Squirtle was riding atop her back. It seemed she'd followed in his footsteps and wasn't stowing her first Pokémon in its Pokéball. He chuckled and waited until they were closer to reply.
"Well, this is a surprise!" he said with a grin. "How are you all doing?"
The three kids came to a halt and smiled broadly. Gwyn was about to speak but Terence beat her to it.
"We're doing great!" he said excitedly. "I caught a Magnemite and a Caterpie!"
Cyril grinned and added his comment. "I caught a Caterpie and a Geodude!" Cyril said. "I also think I saw Zapdos during a thunderstorm!" He pulled out his phone and began rapidly scrolling through his pictures.
Terence giggled excitedly and proudly pulled out his badge case. "I've gotten three badges so far!" he said, holding up the case for Ash to see.
Cyril grinned and held up his phone. "See! Zapdos!" he said. The phone displayed a blurry, dark image of a thunderstorm.
Ash was a little flabbergasted. "Uhhhh," he responded, glancing between the badge case and the phone. "That doesn't really look like Zapdos," he said.
Cyril frowned and zoomed in on a part of the picture. "I just missed a big flash of lightning when I took the picture." He pointed at a section of cloud which looked like all the other clouds. "See, it's right there!" he said insistently.
Ash frowned and hesitated. Serena usually dealt with this sort of thing. He felt a little out of his depth.
"Ahem," Gwyn interrupted.
Terence and Cyril looked over their shoulders at her. She and Turtee frowned and then she spoke in a disapproving tone.
"Remember why we're here!" she said sternly.
The two boys blinked and then realization dawned on their faces. They turned back to face Ash and began speaking at the same time.
"Yeah, we found this really bad gym‑"
"They were teaching their Pokémon to beat up others‑"
"‑out in the middle of nowhere‑"
"‑they just started attacking us‑"
"‑barely got out of there alive‑"
"‑a bunch of crazy trainers‑"
"‑go and teach them a lesson‑"
"‑pretty sure it's illegal‑"
"‑had to go to the Pokémon Center‑"
Ash grimaced awkwardly and held up his hands to calm the kids down. "Okay, okay! Slow down and tell me what's actually going on?" he said.
Terence and Cyril took a couple of breaths and were about to speak when Gwyn shoved forward, in between them. She spoke in a calm and even tone.
"We went to this new gym east of Cerulean City. The gym leader was teaching his students to be really mean to their Pokémon."
At this, Ash frowned. "What do you mean teaching them to be mean to their Pokémon?" he said, an edge creeping into his voice.
Terence and Cyril started to pipe up but Gwyn talked over them.
"Terence had to battle this trainer named Vernon," she said.
At this, Ash's eyebrows went up. "Vernon!?" he replied, recalling his battle against a trainer of the same name.
Gwyn nodded. "Yeah, and he was really mean to his Beedrill! He lost and he said it was useless!"
Ash looked down at the ground. "So he got a Beedrill," he murmured.
Terence quickly interjected himself. "Yeah, I won fair-and-square! But then this gym leader guy named purple came out‑"
Gwyn slapped a hand to her face and sighed. Cyril looked perplexed and then spoke up.
"Uh, his hair was purple, not his name."
Terence's eyes went wide with shock. He looked over at Cyril and spoke quickly.
"Ugh, I can never remember his name," he grumbled in a low voice.
Cyril's face scrunched up in concentration. "Uh, what was it… Pedro?"
"Pine….. co…. no!"
"Parker?"
"Pal?"
Gwyn groaned loudly and then spoke in a bold voice. "PAUL!"
Ash's eyes went wide. "PAUL!" he repeated back in a surprised and dismayed tone.
Terence and Cyril grinned. They pointed at Gwyn and spoke in happy voices at the same time. "YEAH! PAUL!"
Silence hung in the air for a moment. Ash's eyes were focused far away, just like his thoughts. The kids hesitated for a moment and then Cyril held up his phone.
"See, here's a picture of him I looked up," he said.
Ash blinked and snapped out of his temporary trance. He looked at the phone and saw the face of his old rival staring back at him. He was older now but there was no mistaking Paul.
Ash's frown deepened and he looked at Terence. "What'd you say about Vernon and Paul?" he asked.
Terence eagerly took a breath and started talking. "So, after I beat Vernon the first time, we had to battle these other two trainers as well. Vernon used this Machoke‑"
Gwyn stepped in front of Terence and interrupted him. "Yeah, but Paul and Vernon aren't the real problem!" she said in an intense voice.
Ash shifted his gaze to her. "Okay?" he said in a puzzled tone.
Terence and Cyril looked perplexed. Gwyn then began speaking in a very animated fashion.
"You see, there was this really evil girl there! She had eyes and fangs like an Arbok!" she said, holding her hands up to her mouth in an imitation of fangs. "She had this evil Gloom that used all kinds of attacks!"
Ash's mouth was hanging partially agape at this point. He wasn't sure what to think.
Gwyn looked over her shoulder at the Squirtle standing on her backpack. "She hurt poor Turtee!" she said in a heartbroken tone.
Turtee nodded solemnly and groaned weakly.
Gwyn turned back to face Ash and clinched both her fists. "You've got to go there and burn the place down before they hurt anyone else!"
Terence and Cyril looked distressed and they each grabbed hold of Gwyn to calm her down.
"She's just kidding about burning it down!" Cyril said with a nervous laugh.
"Hey, she didn't have eyes like an Arbok!" Terence said.
"Yes she did!" Gwyn retorted. "Didn't you see them?! All squinty and‑"
"OKAY!" Ash said loudly.
All three kids froze in place and looked at the world's greatest Pokémon trainer. Ash waited a moment and then spoke again.
"So, you want me to go there and see what's going on?" he posed.
The kids hesitated and glanced at each other. "Yeah, I guess so," Terence said.
Ash crossed his arms and thought for a moment. He then smiled and looked over his shoulder at Kiawe. The man from Alola had been standing silently, watching the entire exchange.
"Hey, Kiawe, do you think you could keep the place running for a few days?"
Kiawe stepped forward, looking taken aback. "You want me to keep an eye on the Pokémon?" he said in a humbled tone.
Ash nodded. "Yeah, you've seen how things go. I'm sure you can take care of things for a little while."
It took Kiawe a moment to absorb the opportunity, but when he did, he grinned and eagerly clinched his fists. He looked toward the sky and spoke in a fired-up tone.
"Ash, I swear on Mt. Akala and my honor that all the Pokémon will be taken care of!"
Ash chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "Okay, thanks, Kiawe!"
Terence and Cyril looked at Kiawe in puzzlement while Gwyn simply stared with wide, shimmering eyes.
Ash turned back to the kids and gestured to Kiawe. "Guys, this is Kiawe, my friend from Alola."
Terence and Cyril waved and smiled. "Hi," they said in a friendly greeting.
Gwyn stared at the shirtless, buff man and blushed slightly. She gave him a small, bashful wave with her right hand. "Hi, Kiawe!" she said in a very embarrassed and girlish voice.
Cyril and Terence looked befuddled at Gwyn's behavior. A second later Ash spoke again.
"So, do you guys want to get going right now? Have you had lunch?"
All three kids looked shocked.
"Wait, you're coming with US!" Terence blurted out.
Ash grinned. "Of course," he said simply. "You all know where this gym is and who I should talk to."
Terence, Cyril and Gwyn all looked at each other in total astonishment. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined they'd get to travel with the legend, Ash Ketchum. They grinned from ear-to-ear and practically started to vibrate with excitement.
"SURE, LET'S GET GOING!" Terence said loudly.
"IT'S REALLY FAR AWAY," Cyril shouted.
"DO YOU THINK WE CAN FLY ON CHARIZARD?!" Gwyn asked enthusiastically.
Ash started walking toward the main building with the kids. He glanced over his shoulder at Kiawe and waved goodbye.
"No, we can't take Charizard. He can't carry all of us," he said in a calming voice.
The answer didn't dim the kids' enthusiasm a bit. They jumped up and down as Ash made his way to the building. He retrieved his traveling backpack and Pikachu before rejoining the trio on the path leading down to Pallet Town.
"WOW, this is SO COOL!" Terence said.
"YEAH!" Cyril agreed.
Ash chuckled at the kids reactions. A moment later, his eyes went wide and he quickly pulled out his Rotom phone. He tapped a few commands and then blew out a sigh of relief.
Gwyn looked on curiously. "What's going on," she asked.
Ash grinned. "Serena's gonna be competing in a Pokémon Showcase in just a few minutes. I'm glad I didn't miss the start."
Terence cocked his head. "Oh, so that's why Serena's not here," he said.
Ash nodded. "Yeah, she's all the way in Kalos right now."
Terence and Cyril looked amazed. "Wow, she's in Kalos!" Cyril said in an awestruck tone.
"How's she doing being so far away from home?" Terence asked.
Gwyn sighed. "She's from Kalos you silly!" she said bluntly.
Terence and Cyril looked surprised. "She is?" they both replied.
Ash chuckled as the trio started to bicker. It reminded him of his days traveling. He looked at the phone and saw the first stage of the showcase was about to begin. The theme was Poké Puff baking. Serena should have no problems.
Ash quickly tabbed over to his messages and sent Serena a simple text. "I'm watching!" He grinned and switched back to the showcase.
Pikachu climbed up on his shoulder and looked at the screen. His buddy let out a small chirp as the first three girls took the stage. Serena wasn't amongst them, but she would get her turn soon enough. Ash started intently at the three girls and suddenly realized one of them was Miette. The distinct, blue haired girl was apparently taking part in the showcase.
"Huh, how about that," Ash said in an offhand manner.
Pikachu agreed and the two of them kept watching the showcase as it began to unfold.
Kiawe stood in front of a large pile of dirt and debris. The landslide Ash had told him about was larger than he'd imagined. It was going to take a lot of work to clear, but he was up to the task. The man from Alola fixed a determined expression on his face and addressed the small gathering of Pokémon who'd followed him out to the location.
"Okay, we're gonna clear all this up! This is Ash's reserve and we all need to do our best!"
A few of the Pokémon looked on curiously. A couple shrugged and traipsed away. Hawlucha walked over, grabbed a moderately size rock and began carrying it away. It was immediately apparent that Kiawe didn't command the same respect of the Pokémon that Ash did.
Kiawe stepped forward and hefted a small log onto his shoulder. "We just need to get a few ground types in here to clear all this dirt," he said with some strain in his voice.
As Kiawe began lugging the log away his Charizard walked forward and picked up a large, fallen tree. The dragon like beast muscled the huge piece of wood up on its shoulder and prepared to follow its trainer. At that moment, Ash's Charizard finished picking up a second large, fallen tree and let out a deep, guttural grunt.
Kiawe's Charizard turned to look at Ash's creature and the Kanto beast smiled and growled in satisfaction. He very pleased to be carrying twice the load of the interloper. He puffed out his chest and began to walk forward with his heavy cargo.
Kaiwe's Charizard looked indignant. It grumbled for a moment and then picked up a nearby large rock. The two heavily burdened fire types glared at each other and then began waddling after Kiawe, each trying to move faster than the other.
Serena paced back-and-forth inside the dressing room of the Dendemille Town arena. She'd checked her outfit a dozen times and made up her hair as well as she could. The theme performance was already behind her. The subject had been one of her favorites, Poké Puff Baking. She'd easily defeated the other two girls in her group and advanced into the freestyle round. Despite the easy victory she couldn't shake a feeling of nervousness which made her stomach churn and her hands jitter.
It had been so long since she'd been in a proper showcase. Exhibitions and contests were fine, but they simply didn't match up to the splendor of a competition in Kalos. Now that she was here, the stage seemed bigger than she'd remembered.
She'd been expecting a tough road to earning her first princess key. Lisia was a topnotch performer. Defeating her was extremely difficult but it was possible. She'd tied her in the past, so a victory was definitely within her grasp. She'd mentally prepared to go up against the Hoenn showstopper. However, she hadn't prepared herself for Miette!
Serena turned around and began to pace back across the dressing room. Her gaze automatically moved to look at her blue haired rival, casually leaning against a wall and looking up at a screen showing the girl currently performing.
Her old rival had come out of nowhere, just like she always had in the past. One second Serena had been happily greeting a few fans and the next she'd yelped in surprise as Miette had leaned in close over her shoulder and announced herself in her classic dry, sardonic tone. Ever since that moment, Serena had been on edge.
As Serena kept pacing, her gaze remained fixed on Miette's outfit. Even now, she couldn't believe the other woman was going out on stage dressed as she was.
In the past, Miette hadn't been shy about wearing outfits which showed off her beauty and features. However, this dress, if you could call it that, stretched the boundaries of decency. Miette's hair was cut short and adorned with a tiara. She still wore a choker but from there down, the similarities to her old outfit ended. Her dress was now a two piece garment. The top was a dark blue bodice which left her entire midsection, front and back, exposed. There was some frilly fabric running along the seams of the bodice, but most evocatively, the cups holding her breasts left the top third of her bust open for all to see. Forget cleavage, her entire bosom was on display.
The skirt wasn't any better. The lower covering was also a dark blue and was so short Serena could practically see Miette's briefs. Continuing downward, Miette finished her jaw dropping attire with a set of shining, lace-up, black leather boots, which ran a third of the way up her calf. Serena shook her head ruefully. Miette's outfit looked like it had come right out of a lingerie store. In fact, it very well may have.
Serena reached the end of the dressing room and turned on a heel. She began pacing again and her gaze turned to Lisia. The girl from Hoenn was dressed in a much more standard outfit. She had on a modest, sleeveless top which was mostly white, but was crisscrossed with dark blue and turquoise. She also had countless sequins sparkling all over her dress.
Her skirt was patterned much like her old outfit had been with a gradation from light blue to dark. Now, however, the material was a little longer and hung loosely like a traditional skirt. The covering was still plenty short, though, and left more than half of her athletic thighs revealed. Lisia finished the outfit with her traditional light blue boots.
The turquoise haired girl was sitting quietly on a bench, engrossed with her phone. She was rapidly tapping at the screen and oblivious to anything else in the room. Serena assumed she was answering fan messages or something else related to her fame.
Lisia's outfit made Serena feel a little reassured in how she'd prepared. However, she'd detected a definite trend in her competitor's choice of clothing. Everyone was showing off their bodies and looking to attract the eye of the fans.
Serena looked down at her own coverings. Her dress was a more traditional one-piece outfit. She'd forgone all decorations in her hair save for a simple red bow to keep her golden locks secured. She was wearing her old choker, fancy red boots and full-length black tights. Her dress was the new one she'd commissioned about a year ago. It was a lovely, mostly red, strapless outfit featuring some gold and orange highlights. Her skirt was short, but it was still longer than any of the other girls in the competition. Also, even though her outfit was strapless, she barely showed anything below her collarbone.
By the current standards, her coverings were exceedingly modest. It was a stark reminder than she'd been just a young girl the last time she'd competed. Now, she was a grown woman, competing against other grown women. Everything was on the table, performance wise, including showing off skin. It was a factor of her presentation which had never crossed her mind until now. She hoped her lack of eye candy wouldn't matter.
Serena pulled out her phone and reread the text Ash had sent her. It was only two words but it brought a smile to her face. The knowledge that the man she loved would be watching her perform gave her all the energy and determination she needed. She furrowed her brow and banished the feeling of nervousness from her body. She was going to win! She was sure of it!
The door of the dressing room opened and the stage manager poked her head in. "Lisia, time to get ready!" she spoke in a simple and direct manner.
Lisia tapped a few more times on her phone and then bounded up from the bench. She smoothed her outfit, checked her Pokéballs and then stepped lively toward the door. Halfway there, she glanced at Serena and smiled joyfully.
"Wish me luck!" she chirped.
Serena chuckled and smiled in return. "Good luck," she replied in a friendly tone.
The spotlights snapped on, illuminating Lisia and her Altaria, Ali, directly behind her. An upbeat techno music track started to play and the girl from Hoenn beamed with effusive energy.
"HI! HI!" she shouted, waving at the crowd with both her hands. She then took a step to the side and raised her arms in front of her head in a mysterious and mildly sensual pose. "Are you ready for a show?!"
The crowd roared enthusiastically and Lisia laughed in a flirtatious manner. She winked and then swung her arms around in large circular flourishes, letting the momentum transition her into a single spin. Her short skit flared out, completely revealing her sleek and slender legs. Also put on display was Lisia's decision to wear a very minimalistic turquoise dance brief under her skirt. The eyes of many men in the audience were instantly drawn to the alluring sight. More than a few teenage boys in attendance would be sending their votes her way, regardless of how her performance went.
The techno music kicked the beat up a notch and Lisia pushed her arms out to the sides. "Let's go, you two!" she shouted with great fanfare.
Ali let out a melodic cry and a sweet ringing sound filled the air. A moment later, a Chimecho flew out from behind the fluffy, flying type, joining the performance.
Lisia let out a girlish shout and then gave her first commands. "Thunder Wave and Dazzling Gleam!"
Lisia's Chimecho sailed through the air like a streamer being blown on the wind. The Pokémon let out a pleasant tone and then sent a barrage of lightning dancing through the air. At the same time, Ali spread its wings, swept its head from left to right and a huge array of colors shot upward in hundreds of tiny beams. Between the sparking electricity and the threads of rainbow color, it looked as if Lisia had just started a highly technical laser light show.
The techno music started blasting at full force and Lisia bounded across the stage. "Icy Wind and Weather Ball!"
Working like a well-oiled machine, Chimecho blew out a stream of freezing cold air and Ali charged a sphere of white energy. The Icy Wind contacted the Weather Ball and suddenly a beautiful orb of ice was hanging in mid air. Altaria redirected some of the light beams into the orb of ice and immediately the entire area was glittering with rainbow colored illumination.
The crowd ooed and aahed at the spectacular sight. Lisia kicked a leg high in the air and then struck a dazzling pose.
"Acrobatics and Encore!" she shouted with a huge grin.
With a flap of its wings, Ali took to the air and began to twist and spin through the countless beams of light. Chimecho began to cheer with unbridled passion and soon the entire crowd was joining in. Lisia spun, jumped, hopped, bounded and twirled along with Ali. Then the fluffy bird let out a loud, howling cry and dove for the stage. A large, thick mist burst out from the two Pokémon, scattering more of the light in a sensational display of color. The cloud of vapor quickly dissipated and Lisia, Ali and Chimecho were all revealed to be in their finishing poses. The crowd roared and Lisia curtsied. She then broke from the pose and started waving at the audience with both her hands.
"THANK YOU! she shouted. "I HOPE YOU LIKED IT! PLEASE VOTE FOR US!"
The lights illuminated the center part of the stage… and Miette was nowhere to be found. A second later, the distinct, coy, midrange voice of Serena's rival rang out.
"Surprise, I'm over here!" she said, from the left part of the stage.
The lights quickly swept over to her and Miette laughed while waving both her arms high above her head. Meowstic and Steenee chirped their greetings to the crowd and then took their positions. Miette took a couple of bold steps, causing her tiny skirt to flutter. She then smiled mischievously and issued her commands.
"Steenee use Aromatic Mist and Meowstic use Disarming Voice!"
Steenee spun in a circle and released a shimmering cloud of pink mist. The strange scent of the cloud quickly permeated and arena and caused everyone who smelled it to feel a pleasant sense of relaxation and enjoyment.
Meowstic added to the presentation by letting out a mellow and soothing cry which meshed beautifully with Steenee's scent.
Miette turned her body and swayed her shoulders. With a mysterious cock of her head and a wink, she laughed and leapt into the air at the same time as her Pokémon.
"Teeter Dance and Role Play!" she said in a voice which could only be described as flirtatious.
Steenee began to dance in a captivating fashion while Meowstic started playing the role of a foil. Steenee would perform a set of dance steps and Meowstic would swoon and chase after the grass type. Everything was done with incredible precision and speed. Neither Pokémon missed a step.
While her Pokémon performed, Miette also put on a show. Her athleticism let her jump, spin and juke along with her two friends, adding to their display. However, it was not the routine Miette was performing but rather the movements of her body which were drawing the most attention.
Miette's risqué and revealing dress was doing its job. Every time she spun or jumped, her lightweight microskirt flared and revealed her tiny briefs. She might as well have not worn a skirt, because it essentially provided her no covering. Her belly button wiggled along with her exposed midsection but most of the male eyes were focused on the jiggling occurring just a few inches higher.
Miette's button-up, close-fitting, strapless top indeed showed plenty of cleavage and the alluring curves of her bust. However, as tight as the outfit seemed to be, it did not keep her breasts from moving freely. Every time she jumped or dashed, the fleshy mounds on Miette's chest rose and fell in mouth-watering fashion. It seemed like they were about to pop out of her top at any moment, but they somehow remained secure. The temptress of Kalos knew exactly what she was doing and most of the teenage boys who'd earlier chosen Lisia quickly switched their votes.
"Psychic and Magical Leaf!" she called out.
With a flourish, Steenee broke out of her dance and spun around, releasing dozens of multicolored, glowing leaves. Meowstic quickly used its power to freeze the leaves in place and cause all of them to sparkle brilliantly.
Miette smiled impishly and then gave her final command. "Play Nice and Charm!" she said in a voice so sweet it could be used to flavor candies.
Steenee and Meowstic came together like two long lost lovers. Each of them seemed to swoon for the other and they let out emotional and moving cries. At the same moment, the glowing leaves all flashed a bright pink and started falling to the floor in a moving, shower of romantic colors. Miette let out an exaggerated, girlish giggle and then blew a kiss to the audience with a snap of her right arm. She finished in a sensual pose which let everyone who was interested get a good look at her barely concealed feminine beauty.
It took all of Serena's willpower to not roll her eyes as Miette gave the crowd one final wave. The blue haired girl made sure to bounce on her heels causing her bosom to jiggle right before she finally made her way off stage. Serena blew out a tense breath and stepped forward. Miette passed by and she offered a parting comment.
"Good luck, Serena!" she said in a voice which might have been sincere or sarcastic. Serena couldn't quite tell.
Serena smiled politely and continued on. Delphox was to her left and Sylveon to her right. Pancham was directly in front of her and lowered his sunglasses just as Monsieur Pierre's voice sounded over the PA system.
"Ahnd nouw, thee laast but naut leest of ar parformers! Pleese welcome Serena!"
The spotlights snapped on, Serena took a step to the side and entered her initial pose. She beamed with energy and spoke her first command in a sweet and clear voice.
"Sylveon, Fairy Wind! Delphox, Mystical Fire!"
I spun my ribbons in a beautiful display of shining color and sent a streamer of pink mist wafting across the stage. I admired the sparkling sight and then felt bitter resentment claw its way inside me as Delphox's fire crisscrossed with my brilliant display. It perfectly represented what she was; burning destruction clashing with gorgeous beauty.
Serena issued the next command and Pancham jumped up and spun rapidly. He did his part perfectly and used his Ice Punch to make the mist and fire explode outward into hundreds of shimmering orange shards. Delphox used her power to keep them suspended in mid-air and Serena let out a joyful shout. With that, we all started to dance.
Serena twirled and jumped as her Pokémon bounded amongst the icy, orange shards. She knew her display wasn't anywhere as sexy as the other girls but she hoped the audience would appreciate technique over sensationalism.
Serena finished a rapid step sequence and extended her arms to her sides. She spun once and leaned to the side so Pancham could bound up her arm.
"Dark Pulse!" she commanded in a happy voice, tossing Pancham up into the air.
Pancham let out a bold cry and somersaulted in mid-air. He fired a burst of purple energy outward which shattered about half of the shards, creating a bunch of tiny flashes of white light.
Serena juked to the side and let Pancham bounce off her shoulder so he could perform a fancy flip before landing.
"Now, Moonblast!"
Serena spoke my command and I reacted with everything I had. I charged a shining sphere of pink energy, taking special care to make the construct as stable as possible. My stomach churned at what I had to do next. With a forced, eager cry, I sent the orb toward Delphox and watched her take hold of it with her psychic power.
I watched as she began to maneuver my beautiful work around the arena, crashing through many of the glowing shards. With every shard it hit, the sphere began to be surrounded by glowing, orange energy. I frowned internally, appalled that so pretty a device was being polluted by Delphox's fire.
I sent her a quick glare and she returned it. I knew what she thought of me, a female without scruples. She'd even taunted me this morning, asking if I'd snuck out the previous night so the local Skiddo could satisfy my desires. How disgusting to think I would even considering mating outside my species! She'd then had the nerve to say that she would make sure the performance went well. Her attitude was the height of irony. I was the responsible one, she was the one causing problems!
Delphox finished moving the glowing orb around the arena and then drew the sphere close to her. I gritted my teeth in preparation for what I had to do next. It took all my effort but I put on a smile and let out a happy yelp.
With her heart pounding, Serena gulped in a breath and began a dance with Pancham. She glanced to the side and watched as Delphox joyfully tossed the sphere of pink and orange energy to Sylveon. Her fairy type partner elegantly caught the large orb with her ribbons and added a little extra energy to it, causing the ball to glow brighter. Sylveon then let out a happy cry and tossed the sphere back to Delphox.
Serena laughed and tossed Pancham up into the air. "Stone Edge!" she cried out.
Pancham let out a shout and punched at the air. Rather than blue pillars erupting from the stage, the floor surrounding them began to glow a subtle blue.
Serena felt eager anticipation surge inside her. The performance was going perfectly!
I glowered as Delphox caught my sphere and added a little of her poisonous fire to it. She then looked at me and feigned a happy cry before tossing it back in my direction with a little more force than was necessary. I still caught the sphere, despite her attempted sabotage, and glared back her. I added an extra amount of my energy to the orb and then hurled it back with a taunting, gleeful cry.
Delphox caught the sphere but the impact knocked her back a step. I also took satisfaction is seeing her grimace as steam rose from her paws. The extra energy had seared her, just as I'd expected! I watched the selfish fox grit her teeth, charge the sphere and send it back my way.
I knew what was coming. I braced myself and caught the incoming ball with my ribbons. The impact was enormous but I refused to give an inch. Pain spiked as my body absorbed the excess of energy but I didn't so much as flinch. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing she'd hurt me. I smirked and began to add a lot more energy to the sphere.
Serena finished her dancing routine with Pancham and laughed as he flipped and jumped across the stage. The performance was nearly over. She just needed to get everyone together for the big finale. Serena turned toward the front of the stage and saw Delphox was about to catch the Moonblast beach ball she and Sylveon had been tossing back-and-forth. Serena took in a breath and prepared for the next move. Then, Delphox fumbled the catch and the Moonblast ricocheted up into the air!
Serena gasped in surprise and dismay. This had happened once during their rehearsals but she'd thought they'd figured it out. For one terrible instant, Serena, Delphox and Sylveon all stared upward at the sparking sphere of pink and orange energy. Then, with a loud shout, Pancham leapt into the air and struck the orb with a concentrated punch of dark energy. It was a purely improvised move and it worked beautifully. The orb split apart into a shower of multicolored streamers and filled the stage with small, snapping sparks of energy.
Pancham landed in a pose and Serena looked around uncertainly. She then smiled, stepped into her final pose and raise her right arm.
"And, that's it!" she said, hoping the mistake wasn't as obvious as she thought it was.
Sylveon and Delphox followed Serena's lead and struck their finishing poses as well. Unfortunately, all of them were scattered around the stage and very out of position. The audience applauded but Serena suspected they hadn't done enough to win. She let out a tired sigh and her shoulders slumped.
I glared across the stage at Delphox and she glared back. The petty exchange she'd started had ended in a big mistake for all of us. It was typical of her; thinking only of herself. I turned toward the audience, smiled and waved my ribbons. I hoped her mistake hadn't cost us a victory.
Terence sat down on the nearby log and faced toward Ash. Meanwhile, Cyril pulled out his Pokédex and Gwyn kept watching the showcase feed on Ash's Rotom phone.
"How come those showcases are such a big deal?" Terence asked in a puzzled sounding tone. "There's no battling and all the moves look really weird."
Ash smiled wryly while Gwyn sighed. "It's supposed to be artistic and pretty," she said in a disapproving tone. "The Pokémon are putting on a show, not trying to knock each other out."
Terence scrunched up his mouth and made a contemplative sound. "Seems kind of boring to me," he replied.
Gwyn frowned. "It's not boring," she groused. "Not everything with Pokémon is about battles and gyms. Serena's one of the best performers in the world. Everything she does is amazing, and that performance was great!" Gwyn then turned around and beamed at Ash. "Right Mr. Ketchum?" she said smartly, looking for approval.
Ash hesitated for a moment. He wasn't entirely used to being the adult in the room. He grinned and spoke in an upbeat tone. "Yeah, she always puts on a good show," he said diplomatically.
Gwyn turned around, hands on hips, looking very pleased with herself. Terence just rolled his eyes and looked into the crackling fire.
Ash glanced at the phone and saw that the six ladies were all lining up for the final judging. Gwyn had spoken highly of Serena's performance but he had seen enough of her shows to know when one went well and one went poorly. The final move with Delphox and Sylveon had fallen apart before it was finished. Pancham had partially saved it, but the ending hadn't been very crisp. Ash was pulling for his secret wife but he had a small knot in his stomach which said that she would not be winning her first princess key this day.
Gwyn leaned close and looked over Ash's shoulder as the voting began. She tensed up and made some anxious faces as the audience used their glow casters to send small spheres of light toward the performer of their choice. She and Ash smiled as Serena started to receive votes and then their faces fell as Lisia and Miette quickly pulled ahead of her.
Gwyn let out a disheartened sigh. "Awwww," she said. "She was so great too."
Ash nodded solemnly as the final votes came in and Miette was declared the winner. The blue haired girl looked extremely pleased and made several grandiose poses and gestures. She winked and swayed her exposed shoulders in a rather seductive fashion.
Lisia briefly looked very surprised and disappointed. However, she quickly recovered and started looking enthusiastic as she always did. Serena, meanwhile, showed no sign of shock or disappointment. She politely clapped for Miette and subtly smiled. Ash suspected she'd also known the performance had been a bust.
Ash shut off the phone and Gwyn walked over to a log. With shoulders slumped, she sat down heavily and let out another sigh. Silence reigned for a few seconds and then there was the sound of fluttering wings in a nearby tree. A moment later, a loud hooting sound echoed throughout the forest.
Terence and Cyril's heads mechanically turned to look at the source of the sound. Their eyes went wide and their mouths fell open.
"It's a Hoothoot!" Cyril said in an intense whisper.
"What's it doing here?!" Terence replied in an equally intense and excited whisper.
"It must have flown in from Johto!" Cyril said giddily.
Both boys grinned from ear-to-ear and pulled fresh Pokéballs from their pockets.
"I bet I can catch it first!" Cyril challenged.
"No way! I'll get it first," Terence retorted.
The two of them giggled, stood up and turned toward the nocturnal bird. The owl Pokémon regarded the boys for a moment and then took to the sky, flying deeper into the forest.
Both boys gasped in dismay.
"Hey, come back!" Terence cried out, running after the Pokémon.
"Yeah, don't run!" Cyril added, joining his friend in the chase.
Gwyn looked up from the fire and her expression became somewhat perturbed. "Don't go running off at night. You'll get lost again!"
Terence scoffed. "Eh, we'll be fine. Besides, how often do you get a shot at a Hoothoot!?"
Gwyn let out an exasperated sigh. Turtee looked up at her and she gave her Squirtle a subtle nod. The water type grunted and jumped up on her back. She stood up, grabbed her backpack and started running after her two friends.
"Don't go smashing into a tree in the dark like last time!" she shouted as she disappeared into the darkness of the woods.
Ash watched Gwyn vanish and was suddenly alone at the campsite with Pikachu. His buddy's nose twitched as he looked after the kids and then the electric type let out a curious sound.
Ash frowned and looked conflicted for a few seconds. He then shrugged and gave a reassuring smile.
"Eh, they'll be fine," he said.
Pikachu didn't look convinced. The electric mouse responded with a dubious cry and a raised eyebrow.
Ash smiled confidently. "Sure I'm sure," he said. "Remember the first time we were traveling around. That all turned out great."
Pikachu did indeed remember how their first time traveling together had gone. He let out a mournful moan and seemed to deflate slightly. He looked even less convinced than before about the children's safety.
Serena slowly traipsed off of the showcase stage and into the short tunnel which led to the dressing room. She let out a tired sigh and rubbed at her temples. The entire performance had been a disaster and she was lucky it hadn't completely fallen apart. She'd been kidding herself that they could get ready for a big showcase this quickly. All of them were badly out of practice.
Serena pushed past the doors of the dressing room and reached up to undo her choker. She looked at the pendant-like accessory and thought she might not wear it again. She just didn't quite like the feel of something fastened around her neck. She glanced down at her dress and suspected she probably needed to change more than just her choker.
She bit her lip, not especially liking the idea of showing off her body. While she loved teasing Ash and doing risqué things around him, she was repulsed by the idea of doing sexy stuff for others. She scrunched up her mouth in a frustrated expression and shook her head. She'd win her way, at least as far as the outfits went!
Serena let out a sigh and walked over to a small wooden bench. She sat down heavily and rubbed at her face. The dressing room was currently deserted and she was glad of that. At the moment, she wanted to be alone.
Serena pulled her handbag to her side and retrieved her phone. She frowned for moment and then tapped a few commands. The phone started to ring, and a second later, the image of her secret husband appeared on the screen. Serena instantly felt her heart lighten and her mood improve.
"Hey there!" Ash said with a happy smile and glittering eyes.
Serena let out a wistful sigh. She tried to smile but it was hard.
"Hey, Ash," she exhaled, her tone heavy with disappointment and sadness.
Ash made a sympathetic expression. "Sorry you didn't win," he said warmly.
Serena nodded and rested her chin on the palm of her left hand. "Yeah, this sure wasn't my night," she said in a cheerless voice.
Ash shrugged his shoulders in a dismissive manner. "Well, you still looked great doing it!" he said with a touch of flirtation in his voice.
The words caused Serena to chuckle and some of her unhappiness to recede. "Thanks," she replied sincerely. She sighed deeply and stared at her man. It looked like he was outside. He must have been working late on the reserve. She was about to say something when an all-too-familiar, sardonic voice sounded behind her.
"Ohhh, is that Ash?!" Miette called out.
Serena mildly started and quickly glanced over her left shoulder. Miette was standing there in her revealing outfit. In fact, she'd undone a button, causing even more of her cleavage to show.
"Miette!" Serena half squeaked, half groaned.
Miette's red eyes flashed with mischief and she leaned down, plopping her chest on Serena's left shoulder so her moderate, half-covered bust hung over the front of Serena's shoulder. Serena pulled her head back a bit, uncomfortable with the other girl's breasts being so close to her face. Miette stared straight into the phone and looked at a somewhat perplexed Ash.
"Hey, Ash, you're looking good!" the blue haired girl said in a mildly flirtatious voice.
"Uh, hi Miette," Ash said, looking a little sheepish. "Congratulations on winning."
"Miette smiled and cast a sidelong glance at Serena. She then looked back at Ash and put on a childish expression of innocence.
"Oh, yeah, I did do that," she chirped. "Pretty cool, huh?"
Serena's face flushed red. She suddenly felt like she was much younger and sparring with Miette, over Ash, for the first time.
Miette took note of Serena's reaction and an impish smile spread on her face. "You look like you've been working out Ash," she said in a teasing manner. She then wrapped her right arm around Serena's shoulders and gave her a squeeze. "I'll bet Serena really loves that about you?"
Serena flushed an even deeper red and she spoke in a shrill and extremely tense voice. "Well, I need to be getting going, Ash," she said quickly. "I'll talk to you later!"
Before Ash could reply, Serena ended the call. Miette stood up straight and Serena spun around on the bench to face her.
With her teeth clinched, Serena did her best to keep from shouting. "Miette, really!" she hissed.
The blue haired girl flicked her hand in a dismissive fashion. "What's the big deal, Serena?" she said, looking disinterested.
It took Serena a moment to compose a reply which wasn't a screeching rebuke. "Ash is MY boyfriend and I‑"
Miette scoffed and looked at Serena in amusement. "Of course he's your boyfriend," she said matter-of-factly. "I was just doing that for old time's sake."
Serena froze and her mouth fell partially agape. Had Miette's actions all been in jest? If so, it wasn't in very good taste.
"Uh," Serena mumbled, not sure how to proceed.
Miette continued to look amused. A small smile pulled at her lips and she spoke in a somewhat condescending tone.
"Didn't you see," she said. She lifted her hands up and cradled her partially revealed breasts. "He didn't even look at them. He's totally yours."
Serena still felt outraged at Miette's behavior, however, in hindsight, she had to admit Miette was correct. Ash's eyes had never dipped to check out the feminine hardware being dangled in front of his face. She also had to admit that witnessing her man completely ignore the advances of another woman filled her with a sense of pride and love for Ash.
Serena simply sighed and shook her head ruefully. She didn't have any words for Miette.
Miette stood looking amused for a few moments and then turned to head to the changing rooms. As she began to walk she looked over her shoulder and spoke in a teasing voice.
"Ash does look really good, though. He's really ripped, isn't he?"
Serena laughed and nodded. "Yeah, he's… pretty buff," she said with a small blush and a hint of a naughty smile.
Miette sniggered and then walked out of sight, down a corridor. A moment later she leaned back into view, a devilish expression on her face.
"I meant to ask," she teased. "What's he like in bed? I'll bet he's got great stamina!"
Serena's eyes nearly popped out of her skull. Her face turned redder than a Pokéball and her mouth opened wide to accommodate her very loud response.
"MIETTE!" Serena screeched in a voice so shrill it surly would have shattered glass.
Ash poked at the dying fire with a stick and then sat back down on a log. He looked to his left and then his right. The kids were nowhere to be found. He frowned and glanced at Pikachu. His best buddy had his arms crossed and a distinct 'I told you so' expression on his face.
Ash looked a little sheepish and pulled out his phone to check the time. "It's only been an hour," he said in a disarming tone. "I'm sure they'll be back any minute now."
Pikachu rolled his eyes and let out a very sarcastic groan.
Ash scrunched up his mouth and looked around him into the darkness of the forest. It sure wouldn't be a good look to lose all three kids on the first night of their journey. Ash crossed his arms and leaned back a little. He tried to look relaxed but worry was starting to gnaw at him.
A few minutes later, there was the sound of rustling foliage and some youthful grunts and groans. Ash smiled and looked toward the source of the sounds. The noise was coming from a completely different direction than what the kids had set out in. Apparently they'd gotten very turned around in the dark.
Terence pushed out of a large bush and stepped into the dim light of the campfire. "HA! I told you I'd find it!" he said in a proud voice.
Gwyn emerged from the bush next and promptly shoved past Terence. She had sticks and leaves in her hair and a very sour expression on her face. Without a word, she walked over to where she'd been sitting earlier, plopped down and started grumbling. Turtee hopped off her back and began sulking as well.
Cyril stepped out next, holding a phone with a dark screen. "Next time, we need to remember to charge these things. Not having a map is rough."
Terence waved off his comment. "Eh, we were fine. We only got a little lost."
At this, Gwyn and Turtee laughed harshly. "Did slamming your face into that tree wipe your memory?"
Terence rubbed at the large red mark on the left side of his face. "No!" he said, unable to come up with a witty reply.
Ash watched the kids for a few more seconds and then spoke up. "So, did you guys get the Hoothoot?" he asked.
Cyril grinned and Terence looked disappointed.
"Yeah, I caught it!" Cyril said excitedly, bouncing on his heels. He held up the red/white sphere containing his new friend. "Terence missed with his Pokéball."
Ash smiled broadly. "Hey, that's great!" he said. "You know, I've got a Noctowl. I think you'll be really happy training a Hoothoot."
Cyril nodded and stowed away his Pokéball. Gwyn started brushing debris out of her hair and Terence began pulling off his shoes. Ash glanced at the trio and nodded in satisfaction. Another job well done! The kids were all safe!
Pikachu abruptly poked Ash in the leg with his tail. Ash looked down at his buddy.
"What's up?" he said.
Pikachu had a disapproving expression on his face. He made a few gestures and pointed at the kids. He then briefly pretended that he was injured and needing medical care.
Ash frowned for a moment and then his eyes lit up with understanding. "Hey," he called out in a clear voice. "Are you guys all okay?" he said.
All three of the kids gave affirmative replies, however Gwyn seemed to be quite unhappy.
Ash again nodded in satisfaction. "Good catch buddy," he said in a low voice. "Without Serena around, I forget about the little things."
Pikachu face palmed and let out a long, deep groan.
Serena finished brushing her teeth and gave her hair a final combing before she stared into the mirror above the sink for one last time. Sometimes she was surprised to see the face of a grown woman staring back at her. Today was one of those days. The events of the day had made her feel like she was a youth once again, just setting out on her adventure. She'd made all the old mistakes just like when she'd first started out and just like when she'd first started out, she'd lost badly.
Serena sighed and stepped out of the bathroom in her hotel room. She put away her toothbrush and made her way over to the bed. She was wearing her comfy pink nightgown and her golden hair was hanging loosely. She climbed up on the bed and scooted forward so she could rest her head on a pillow. She laid down on her stomach and let her face sink in to the soft, cushy, coolness at the head of the bed. She exhaled a tired sigh; this hadn't been a good day at all.
Serena wallowed in her sorrows for a few seconds and then suddenly felt a tingle of eagerness twitch inside her. She hadn't gotten to properly finish her conversation with Ash when she was at the showcase arena. This would be the perfect time to do so!
With a smile and a small giggle, Serena flipped over so she was on her back and reached over to her night stand to retrieve her Rotom phone. She paused for a moment, considering how to proceed.
Back at the showcase area, after she and the other girls had changed back into their standard clothes, she'd left the dressing rooms and mingled with the crowd for a little while. During that time, she'd seen Lisia meet up with Raoul and watched the barrel-chested man casually run his hand up, over her butt. Lisia had yipped and turned red as a beet, but it had also been clear that she'd liked the sensual gesture.
Serena had then seen Miette meet up with an attractive looking guy in the crowd. It hadn't been clear, but Serena assumed that he was her boyfriend. The blue haired girl had whispered something to him and made eyes at him. They'd left together, leaning very close to each other. Based on their body language, Serena had a strong feeling that Miette was currently celebrating her victory in a very sexy and erotic way.
After watching her two rivals walk away with their men, Serena had felt very lonely. Her own man was far away and there was no way she could enjoy his company this night…. or could she?
Serena held her Rotom phone above her and chewed on her lip. Ash was just a video call away. With few taps of the screen, she could see him and he could see her. Serena reached down to her collar with her right hand and fingered the top button of her night gown. The dress was a single piece of fabric which ran down to her knees. There were a few buttons at her collar but they didn't run down the entire front of the garment. Serena started to flush red at the thought of opening up the top of her gown and then video calling Ash.
The girl from Vaniville Town had never really considered doing something truly risqué over the phone. She and Ash had exchanged some very steamy texts. They'd said some provocative words and she had even let him hear one of her moans while she'd been in the process of sating her body's carnal desires. However, she'd always stopped short of broadcasting anything blatantly sensual. She just didn't like the idea of her intimate actions going out over who knew where before they got to Ash. However, now that she was faced with immense loneliness, the phone call didn't seem like so bad an option.
Serena debated mightily about whether or not she should go through with the idea. She popped free one of her collar buttons and then a second one. She flushed a deeper shade of red and turned on her phone's camera so she could see what Ash would see. Serena smiled as she took in the sight of her ruffled night gown and her partially exposed chest. With a grin, she popped free the rest of the buttons and pulled the collar apart so all of her chest and part of her cleavage was exposed.
Serena bit the tip of her tongue, debating whether she should give Ash a call. She could feel that her desires were aroused. If she called Ash, she had a good idea of where their conversation would end up leading! She took in sharp breath and slowly blew it out. Her face felt hot and her loins were starting to tingle. With a subtle giggle, Serena reached down and pulled the collar of her gown down far enough that her left breast was revealed. Seeing the image on her phone and imagining Ash taking in that sight made her heart start to pound.
Over the past year, she'd thought of a hundred ways of how she could reveal her bust to Ash, but none of them had been over the phone. She'd always wanted to be in-person when Ash finally got to see her feminine hardware. She'd wanted to see his reaction first-hand but she'd also wanted to receive whatever his response would be! Serena gave her breast a squeeze and breathed in sharply as she imagined Ash's hand performing the action instead of her own. She then covered her lovely mound back up and fluffed her hair. Her appearance was somewhere between sloppily unkempt and immensely sexy, just where she wanted it to be! With a final consideration, she tapped a few commands and her phone started to dial her man!
As the phone started to ring, Serena chuckled nervously. She shook her head and pressed her lips tightly together. This was probably a really bad idea! She knew her emotions and desires were getting the better of her, but she didn't care. She wanted to have some sexy time with her man and if she had to flash him over the phone, then so be it!
Serena blew out a hot, tense breath as the phone connected and the screen changed. Ash's face came into view and Serena felt warm excitement blossom inside her chest. She couldn't quite tell but it looked like he was still outside. His faced seemed to be illuminated by firelight and she thought she could faintly see trees in the dim background.
Ash's location was a puzzlement, but she didn't dwell on it. She made sexy eyes at him, pursed her lips in a sexy way and angled the camera so he could see her face along with all of her alluring chest and cleavage. She grinned hungrily as she saw his eyes widen in astonishment. She could tell he liked what he saw!
"Hey, Ash!" Serena breathed in an exceedingly feminine voice which dripped with sex and desire.
With her right hand she held the phone above her, with her left she used her index finger to playfully stroke at the fabric of her collar, teasing that at any moment she might pull the clothing aside and reveal her succulent, feminine flesh.
Ash swallowed and looked nervous. "Uhhhh, hi!" he said tensely.
Serena chuckled and let out an inviting and seductive hum. She squirmed on the bed and prepared to have some sexy fun… Then, some very young voices eagerly cried out.
"Hey, is that Ms. Serena!?" a girl shouted.
"Oh, cool!" a boy shouted.
A moment later, Gwyn, Cyril and Terence all piled around Ash. They looked toward her with eager expressions and wide eyes.
Serena felt pure horror course through her. She instantly pulled her collar closed and angled the camera up so it only showed her face. She was so glad she hadn't called Ash with a breast hanging out or worse!
"Kiiiiiiids…" Serena said in an extremely surprised and overly-friendly voice which slowly trailed off to nothing.
Fortunately, the prepubescent children knew nothing of what Serena's intentions had been. They grinned from ear-to-ear and spoke quickly.
"We watched your performance, Serena," Gywn said. "It was really great!"
"Yeah, it's too bad you didn't win," Cyril said in a downcast voice.
Serena worked her mouth and tried to reorder her thoughts. "Oh, uh, well, thank you!" she managed.
Gwyn leaned a bit closer to the phone. "You're gonna try again, right!" she said eagerly.
Serena forced a smile. "Yeah, definitely," she replied.
Gwyn and the boys looked pleased. Serena glanced between them and then looked at Ash.
"So, I didn't know you'd met up with the kids?" she said in an inquiring tone.
Ash smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I was gonna tell you when you called earlier but we kinda got cut off."
Serena swallowed a bitter batch of emotions. Since Ash was with the kids, there was no chance she'd be able to have her sexy time with him. She kept a smile on her face even though she wanted to cry.
"Oh well, that's fine," she said in a distant tone. She took a breath and then continued. "So, what's up? Why are you three back?"
Terence brightened up and spoke boldly. "So, there's this really bad gym leader who's teaching people to hurt their Pokémon. We told Ash about it and he's gonna go there and beat em all!"
Cyril and Gwyn nodded in agreement.
Serena was surprised. That hadn't been the sort of answer she'd expected. She looked at Ash and raised an eyebrow. Ash, meanwhile, looked a bit embarrassed.
"Uhhh, well, it probably won't go exactly like that," he replied in a diplomatic tone. "I'm gonna see what's going on before I go battling anyone."
Terence looked distressed. "But we already told you everything!" he said in an insistent tone.
"Yeah," Gwyn added. "That place needs to be burnt down!"
An amused smile pulled at Serena's lips and she chuckled softly.
Ash used his free hand to wave the children to be calm. "Look, we're not burning the place down. I'm gonna talk with Paul and see what's up."
Serena hummed and nodded. "I'm sure you'll get it worked out," she said in an encouraging tone.
Ash nodded in reply and looked at each of the kids in-turn.
"Okay, you three, it's time for bed," he said in an authoritative tone.
"AWWWWWW!" the kids all groaned.
Serena chuckled and then spoke up in her own stern but loving tone. "You heard him. You need to get to bed."
The kids looked sad for a moment but then they brightened up.
"Okay, good night, Serena!" Gwyn said.
"Yeah, see you later!" Terence said.
"I hope you win your next contest!" Cyril said.
"Showcase!" Gwyn admonished.
Cyril looked nonplussed. "Uh, showcase," he corrected.
Serena smiled and spoke in a sweet tone. "Thank you! You all have a good night sleep, too!"
The kids all made happy noises and then moved out of view. Ash's gaze followed them for a moment and then he looked back at Serena.
"Sorry I didn't tell you what was going on," he said in an apologetic voice.
Serena felt her sadness return. She kept up a brave front though and shrugged her shoulders.
"It's fine," she said.
Ash looked amused. "It looked like you were planning something," he said in low voice.
Serena let out a sigh and nodded subtly. "Yeah," she breathed quietly.
Ash pursed his lips and let out an unhappy sigh. "Well, maybe next time," he said optimistically.
Serena nodded. "Yeah, maybe," she replied.
The two of them shared an emotional stare and then Serena smiled wistfully. "Talk to you later Ash," she said.
Ash smiled. "Yeah, good night," he replied.
They stared a moment longer and then Serena ended the call. As her phone's screen went dark Serena breathed out an exasperated sigh and let her arms fall to the bed. That hadn't gone at all how she'd planned. Frustration, sadness and loneliness all washed over her and, for a few seconds, she felt like she might start crying. Instead, she took a deep breath, steeled her emotions and thought about what she should do.
She didn't really feel like sleeping just yet. She was still wide awake and her mind was very active. Her Pokémon were all taken care of and no doubt sleeping within their Pokéballs. Serena spun her phone in her fingers a few times and then she remembered Lisia's offer of teaming up and traveling together.
She'd only given the offer a passing thought as she had her own plan for traveling in Kalos and visiting showcases. However, with how badly her first performance had gone, it looked like she needed some serious practice before she was ready to take the stage properly. Maybe a short stint on the road with Lisia would be just the trick?
Serena tapped her phone against her chin as she considered this possibility. It wasn't the best option but she needed to do something to up her showcase game. Plus, she was feeling lonely and she really wanted to have a friend to talk with. With a small groan, Serena tapped her phone a few times and a call to Lisia was placed.
Serena waited as the phone rang twice, then a third time and then a fourth. She was just starting to wonder if Lisia was asleep when the girl from Hoenn picked up. She heard a little bit of rustling as the phone was shifted and then Lisia spoke in a somewhat slow and whimsy manner.
"Serena…. hiiiiii," the other girl said.
Serena suppressed a snigger upon hearing her friend. It sounded like she'd caught Lisia by surprise.
"Hi, Lisia," she said in a friendly tone. "I hope I'm not bothering you."
There was a short pause and then Lisia spoke up. "Oh….. no, not at all!" she said in a emphatic tone. "What's going on?!"
Serena smiled and chuckled happily. "Well, a few days ago you were wondering if I'd want to team up with you. I just was calling to see if that offer's still open."
There was another pause and then Lisia replied in a surprised and slightly jittery tone. "Oh…. wow! Serena….. you're wanting to team up?!"
Serena nodded even though Lisia couldn't see her. "Yeah, that's what I was wondering about," she said.
Another short pause passed and then Lisia spoke in a warbling voice. "Uhhhhhhh, just a sec!" she said quickly. There was a sudden rustling sound as the phone shifted and then everything became muffled. It sounded like Lisia had set the device down on a pillow.
Serena frowned and raised an eyebrow. Given Lisia's personality and the desire she'd expressed to team up, she'd expected her to jump at the mere suggestion of traveling together. The hesitation on her part was surprising. A dozen seconds passed and then there was more rustling as Lisia picked the phone back up, speaking in a very measured tone.
"Wow, Serena! That'd be so great if we could team up!" she said.
Serena hesitated for a moment. She'd been expecting squealing and shouting, not an even response from Lisia.
"Yeah, I was wondering where you were thinking of traveling and what sort of performances you were planning?"
"Uhhhhhhhhhh!" Lisia groaned. She then inhaled sharply and there was a muffled *clump* sound as the girl clamped a hand over the phone's microphone. Serena could faintly make out Lisia saying something in a high-pitched voice and there was some sort of low noise in response. More time passed and Lisia uncovered the phone.
"Uhhh, what were you wondering ABOUT?!" she said, her comment ending in a loud, embarrassed squeak.
Serena scrunched up her mouth in puzzlement. Something was not right with Lisia.
"I was wondering where you were thinking of traveling next?" she repeated.
Lisia took a ragged breath and spoke in a labored voice. "Well….. I was thinking of Anistar City next. I know the showcase there isn't for a couple weeks but I wanted to get a head start."
Serena drummed the fingers of her left hand on her chest. She didn't like the idea of staying put for so long, but on the other hand, she really needed to spend some time training.
"Well, I think that could work for me," she said. "Maybe we could stick together until the next showcase and then go from there?"
There was another pause and Serena thought she heard Lisia gasp. When the turquoise haired woman finally replied, her voice was an octave higher than before. "Yeah, THAT SOUNDS GREAT!" she squealed.
Serena pulled the phone back from her ear and stared at it. What in the world was going on with Lisia?!
"Uh, is everything okay?!" Serena posed.
Lisia swallowed and then replied in a tense voice. "Yeah….. everything's fine," she said frantically. "I'm just trying to… control my….. Pokémon…." A muted squeak sounded over the phone before Lisia spoke again. "Just a sec!"
The phone became muffled again and Serena could hear Lisia saying something else in a high-pitched voice. A few more seconds passed and the phone was uncovered once again.
"Uhhh, so….. Anistar City, huh?" Lisia said in a shaky, overly-friendly voice. "That sounds really great!"
Now it was Serena's turn to hesitate. "Yeah," she replied cautiously. "I really want to do some training before the next showcase‑"
Serena was interrupted by a short, high-pitch outburst from Lisia. The other girl gasped for breath and there was another *clump* sound as she dropped the phone. This time the microphone wasn't covered and Serena could faintly make out the voices.
"Raoul, stop licking! I really need to talk to Serena!"
Serena partially heard the man's sultry reply but her brain didn't register it. She instantly felt a massive wave of embarrassment wash over her. Her face turned a deep red and burned with shame. She clinched her teeth and pinched at the bridge of her nose with her left hand. She knew exactly the sort of activity which made a girl squeal like that. It seemed she'd interrupted Lisia's snuggle time with Raoul.
"Ummmm, Lisia….. I can see you're really busy right now," Serena choked out in a tense and awkward voice. "I'm just gonna call back later."
Serena ended the call, and let out a humiliated sigh. She set her phone down on the bed and covered her face with her hands. Why in the world had Lisia picked up?! Did she really put performance ahead of everything else in her life?
It took the better part of a minute for the feeling of humiliation to fade from Serena's emotions. She frowned and moved her phone over to her nightstand. She then pulled the covers up, over her waist and turned out the lamp next to her bed. She stared up at the ceiling and suddenly started to feel very, very alone.
Ash was half a world away and she couldn't even call him to have some fun. It seemed like fate was conspiring to keep her from enjoying some sexy time with her secret husband. Her heart ached at his absence and the feeling was only made worse by the fact that her two rivals were, no doubt at this very moment, on the receiving end of lovely, sensual sex.
Serena didn't want to, but her mind ended up envisioning Miette and Lisia in various orientations while their men made love to them. She could imagine expressions of ecstatic pleasure on their faces and she felt a little bit of jealousy creep into her thoughts. She wasn't jealous of their relationships, merely of what they were experiencing. She let out an agonizing sigh and hugged her knees against her chest.
She could have had everything they were currently enjoying. Ash had been willing, but she'd put the brakes on intimacy. At the time, she'd thought it was the correct decision, but now, loneliness was giving her a different perspective. Right now, she really wished she could think back and relive the feeling of Ash passionately moving atop her and within her. Alas, she'd never experienced such affection from a man.
Her eyes started to tear up and Serena let out a ragged breath. She let go of her knees and wiped at her face. She straightened her legs out and let herself relax. Her right hand drifted down to her belly and she briefly considered making herself not feel so lonely. Had she been able to exchange sensual comments with her man, she would have proceeded without hesitation. As it was, she ultimately rejected the idea. She just wasn't feeling the spark at the moment. She sighed, turned on her side and closed her eyes.
A couple of tears slowly ran down her nose and cheek before sleep finally took Serena. Even then, her rest was fitful. She was first tormented by a dream where she found herself trapped in Kalos forever, eternally separated from the man she loved. The second dream was even worse. After three years spent earning the title of Kalos queen, Serena returned to Pallet Town to see Ash. She opened the door and was greeted by Ash and a pregnant Miette, holding a small baby. She'd taken too long to achieve her dream and Ash had moved on.
Serena awoke in a cold sweat and nearly screamed in dismay. It took her a few minutes to reassure herself that none of her dreams were real. She picked up her phone and spent the rest of the night slowly looking through the countless pictures of Ash on her phone. When the first light of dawn started to appear, she sent her secret husband a good morning text. She got a happy reply back and this caused a bit of warmth to tingle inside her heart.
Relieved, she laid down and finally fell back asleep. This time, she dreamed of a warm, sandy beach, a shirtless Ash and her bikini top sailing through the air as she tossed it aside. The sleeping girl from Vaniville Town squirmed slightly beneath the covers and a broad smiled spread across her face. A small moan escaped her lips as she experienced in her dreams what Miette and Lisia had enjoyed for real just a few hours ago.