Serena POV

I jolt awake. I look around, catching my breath.

"Just another nightmare," I mutter. I have been having nightmares a lot lately. Mostly about failing. That's what the one tonight was about; failure. My first showcase where I broke down replayed in my head, except this time, I was in the audience with Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie. They didn't notice me and I couldn't speak to them. As I watched Fenniken fall and me break down on stage, I heard whispers all around.

"What a loser," Clemont muttered.

"Failure," Bonnie whispered.

"What a weakling," Ash said. As tears sprang to my eyes many more voices filled my head. I tried to run from them, covering my ears, but the whispering didn't subside. Suddenly, I found myself back in my body onstage. I knelt on the polished wood floor, holding Fenniken. I looked at the judges who were either snickering or shaking their heads.

"I am a failure," I sobbed, jumping to my feet. I tried to run from the stage, but tripped and fell. As I was about to hit the ground, I woke up, my heart racing. I feel my face, finding it wet with tears. I take a shaky breath.

"Well, there is no way I am going back to sleep now," I whisper to myself. I unzip the tent and step outside. The wind rushes by, making me shiver. I hug myself and sit down on one of the logs circling the dying fire. I sit silently, pondering my dream.

"Am I a failure?" I whisper. I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the negative thoughts.

"Serena, you have won two showcases, you are obviously not a failure," I tell myself, but doubt still creeps in. I am so lost in thought that I don't notice someone approaching.

"Serena?" I jump turning around to find Ash, looking at me with a concerned expression.

"My goodness Ash you scared me," I laugh nervously.

"Sorry," he says, rubbing his neck.

"What are you doing out here?" I ask.

"I could ask you the same question," he replies, raising an eyebrow. "I heard someone moving around out here and came out to investigate."

"Oh, sorry for waking you up," I apologize.

"Don't worry about it," he says, waving it off, but then stops, noticing my red swollen eyes and tear stained cheeks. "Serena, were you crying?" he asks, concerned. I quickly attempt to wipe away my tears.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it," I quickly reply, faking a smile. Ash shakes his head and gestures to the open spot next to me on the log.

"May I?" He asks. I shrug and he sits down. "Are you okay?" He questions. I nod. He turns so he is facing me. "No really, Serena are you alright?" I attempt to say yes but feel my throat tighten.

"No," I sob, putting my head in my hands. "I'm a failure!"

"You are most definitely not a failure," Ash says earnestly, tilting my chin up so I am forced to look at him. I blush and look down. "How can you call yourself a failure?" Ash says, looking into my eyes, as if searching for an answer.

"Well, just look at me!" I exclaim, gesturing to my red eyed, crying self.

"Serena, this is called being human, it's okay," Ash laughs softly.

"But I am failure! I'm not brave like you, or smart like Clemont, or caring like Bonnie!" I exclaim in frustration. "I probably won't even be able to complete Master Class of my performances," I mumble, thinking if my nightmare. "Heck, I can't even tell the boy I like my feelings for him," I mumble, looking up quickly to see if Ash heard. Luckily, it seems he didn't. Ash sighs.

"Serena, I don't know how you don't realize this, but you are amazing! You are kind, talented, smart, and... b-beautiful," Ash exclaims, blushing at the last part. I feel my heart give a flutter inside my chest. Ash recovers quickly. "You will be Kalos Queen before you know it!" He says, smiling. His enthusiasm is contagious, and I give a small smile.

"You really think so?" I ask.

"I know so," he says winking. I smile. Another gust of wind rushes by, making me shiver. Ash sees this and begins taking off his jacket. "Here," he says, holding it out to me. I blush.

"No, I couldn't Ash, then you would be cold," I say, shaking my head. Ash sighs, taking the jacket and wrapping it around my shoulders.

"I will be fine," he assures me. I shake my head, but put the jacket on anyways, blushing all the while. We sit in silence for a couple minutes, watching the dying coals of the fire. I feel my eyes begin to droop and start dozing off. I awake for a moment to find my head on Ash's shoulder, but I'm to tired to care and have soon fallen back asleep. I sleep without dreams, aside from one. In the dream, Ash was stroking my hair. He tucked a stray lock behind my ear carefully. After gazing at me for a moment, he reached down and kissed me softly on the forehead. "Good night Serena," he had whispered before all went black.

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The next morning, a small blonde head peeked out of her purple tent. She looked around and spotted two figures fast asleep in front of the campfire. She tried to stop herself from squealing in delight as she tiptoed over. The raven haired boy had one arm around the girl peacefully sleeping against him. Both had a slight smile on their face as if they were in the middle of a pleasant dream. The little girl pulled out a pink camera and snapped a picture.

"That's a keeper," she whispered, smiling, as she tiptoed back to her tent.