Serena woke up extra early and was already heading to the reported starting line, the end of the path that led to the main arena. She was all alone but surrounded by a few trainers that had friends. Serena used this time to ponder on the situation with Ash. It was only stuck at the back of her mind because the last time hurt her, so she wanted to be strong around her friends and new found friends. 

"Serena, hey!" the first to arrive was May. She too was alone, with her Pokemon of choice, Glaceon by her side.

"Oh, it's you May. Good morning" Serena smiled, holding a Pokeball in her left hand. May took notice of it and looked down.

"Your Pokemon of choice?" May asked Serena, who nodded.

"I am using Braixen" Serena threw the Pokeball and the light flashed, revealing Braixen.

"Haven't you used Braixen every time? I am starting to worry about your other Pokemon" May inspected Braixen, who's smile had wiped away, showing a frown at May.

"Well...I promised Braixen that I would use her in my next competition and I would win with only her by my side. It was after I lost in the final performance. My shot at becoming the Queen..." Serena sighed.

Some time ago...

"Braixen, use flamethrower!" Serena span around, dancing around Braixen, who immediately spun her twig and shot flames into the air. "Now, Sylveon, swift!" Sylveon jumped up and swung her tail around, the stars flying at the flamethrower, one by one, like discs being inserted into a computer, they entered the flames, but then reappeared on the other side, slowly burning away, leaving away golden dust that scattered around the stage like golden rain drops, a curtain of golden dust in front of Serena and Braixen, who were choreographically moving around. Then...

Sylveon lost her footing, dancing around in circles around Braixen and Serena, who were adjacent to one another. She tumbled into Braixen, who in turn hit Serena. Serena kept her footing and balanced her Pokemon, keeping them up too. 

"Braixen, hidden power!" Serena gritted her teeth. That will probably guarantee someone else the victory... I need to use him now. "Pancham, dark pulse!" Serena shouted, causing the audience to be confused.

"Where is Pancham?" Ash got out of his seat, inspecting the stage.

"She did confirm the use of three Pokemon, but I do not see him" Clemont nodded, he too was looking for Pancham.

"Up there!" Bonnie pointed up to the rafters. 

On the highest point, Pancham leaped down and the dark pulse was already pulsating in his hand. He didn't fire it, but instead, dive bombed down into the hidden power, the blue orbs floating in the air. The dark pulse cut through them, creating a mix of blue and purple glittery dust, making a sort of dnight time feel around the stage. Pancham flipped, using the speed he lost after doing the move to land safely, standing at the front of the stage with his arms folded, Serena behind her with her arms out, striking a pose. Syvelon stood by her side while Braixen kept on spinning her stick, the glitter raining down over Pancham, making him more noticeable at the front. The crowd erupted into a roar and then Serena had to leave the stage, taking a break before the results were announced.

Now...

"Woah, that sounds amazing. But I am guessing you didn't win after the little accident?" May spoke sympathetically and a slightly down Serena nodded, Braixen looking down at the floor. 

Serena suddenly snapped her head up, determination in her eyes. "But I am not about to give up! I promised Braixen this because she was my first Pokemon and I will not lose!" 

"That's something I like to hear. But I won't lose to you" May shared the determination.

"If anyone will win, I know who will it be" a confident and egotistical Gary appeared.

"I swear Misty said you used to act like this, you getting a little too big for your own clothes?" May retorted.

"Ah well, I am no good at this stuff without sounding so egotistical" Gary admitted with a sarcastic nod. 

"I am surprised that Ash isn't here, he would probably start the race early" Serena laughed. Gary's eyes darted over to Serena and he grinned.

"Talking about Ash, are we?" Gary spoke cunningly. "I know you have a thing for him, but let's save the talk for later"

"Gary!" May slapped him on the arm. "No need to be so loud about it, she was only making conversation" 

"Besides, Ash said he isn't interested" Serena shrugged, but Gary choked on his own breath. 

"Rejected by that airhead? Must've been a rough gig" He laughed, causing Serena and May to frown.

"If you don't shut up, I will kick you so hard, you won't be able to have a baby" Misty's cold breath bounced off of Gary's neck, as she whispered behind him. "Oh hi, guys!" she changed to a casual tone, jumping around Gary, who looked like he had just seen a ghost.

"Hey Misty," Serena and May said in unison. They suddenly heard rapid footsteps.

"Pikachu, wait up!" Ash was sprinting down the path, Pikachu grinning delightfully as he took the lead. 

"Pika!" Pikachu laughed, skidding to a stop in front of the others. 

"Ash, you could've told me you were going to run off like that!" Iris came jogging down the path, her brows furrowing in annoyance. 

"Hey, it was Pikachu being all excited, aren't you buddy?"

"Pika Pika!" Pikachu sounded very energetic, compared to the person behind Ash, who was trundling over with an exhausted face.

"Bonnie...m-made me...run" Clemont stopped and placed his hands on his knees, panting for breath. "I feel like I might keel over"

"You're little sister sounds like a bigger man than you" Brock appeared out of nowhere, slapping Clemont on the back. He actually keeled over, this time, moaning on the floor.

"You're a mess" Serena helped Clemont up and placed him on the bench, allowing him to rest and catch his breath. "It's a good thing we still have ten minutes"

Everyone waited around for ten minutes, then Team Shadow appeared, almost like they had just stepped out of the shadows. They all walked in silence and it made Ash mentally facepalm. The last week had been so hectic, he had completely forgotten that they were here and causing trouble.

"Now, we all know the rules. No using moves that can assist you in getting to higher points, like vine whip and fly, your goal is the top of the mountain, so good luck and go on the gun!" the announcer's voice faded and everyone prepared themselves on the line. 

The gun rang out, but no one moved. It was so perfectly timed that only a step was taken.

"Greninja, surf" Elizabeth's voice echoed as Greninja immediately produced a great amount of water, sending all of the other trainers and their Pokemon up into the water. Ash and the gang struggled, being forced to ride the waves. 

"Murkrow, use psychic and keep the water in the air, with the trainers and their Pokemon too" Jeremy shifted his glasses up and the water stopped, glowing in a blue light due to Murkrow's psychic. Ash's eyes widened as he played back the scene in his head. 

There is no way they could have stepped back in time, was this planned? Who are these people? Ash thought, looking on as the rest of Team Shadow simply walked around the water and then suddenly sprinted down the path at great speeds. 

"Meowstic, use psychic!" one trainer called out.

"Isn't this cheating?" another one moaned in frustration.

"I didn't say they couldn't use moves to stop you" the announce admitted, before climbing into her car and heading to the finishing point.

"I have an idea" Gary turned to his Umbreon. "Let's play a little game, use psychic on that Murkrow" 

A blue light surrounded Jeremy's Murkrow as it began to rise into the air, panicking. The only way it could get down was by disabling the psychic over the water and then using it on itself to counter. Murkrow gave in, disabling the psychic and freeing everyone. Ash landed safely on his feet and pretty much disappeared onto the path, dashing after Team Shadow. Everyone else got up and ran off, leaving Jeremy to panic. 

"It's ok, I have an invention precisely for this situation!" He sneered and then threw off his backpack.

Somewhere along the course, Parker was casually jogging, steadying his pace when he heard a huge explosion and immediately sighed. "That idiot. Ash Ketchum and his friends may pose more of a problem than anticipated..." 

The race had just begun, and no one understood yet, but there was a long contest ahead of them.