No POV

"You all deserve to know, some of you know something, but I decided I won't keep it from you anymore."

---------------------------------

Serena POV

I looked at huge building in front of me and felt overwhelmed with many emotions. I shivered at those emotions, joy, fear, enthusiasm, determination but most of all, fear. I didn't even notice I was shaking until Ash placed hand on my shoulder.

"You are gonna be fine Serena. Just believe in yourself." he said with smile and after a moment, I smiled back before another hand landed on me, this time pulling me by my arm.

"We are going! I am very interested to which of us you are gonna cheer for Ash." Dawn yelled right next to my ear, but I took it more like waking up into all of this. They all yelled behind us and Dawn let go of me. "I see you're nervous. Good, at least you won't take it easy, but don't let it eat you out and yes that is what I said." I laughed at Dawn's words and it made me more relaxed.

"Thanks Dawn, I needed that." I said and Dawn agreed with me, while we walked past guards. They let us through thanks to our cards we needed for registration into pokemon showcases. As we entered, many girls were already preparing, some were talking over again their planned performance, some were making sure their pokemon looked best with no clothes or with clothes.

"I am gonna prepare as well, good luck Serena." Dawn said and walked away. I turned around to see what could I do, my eyes went over many people, I noticed the most woman with purple hair, she had a lot of accessories. I remembered I had too change in my dress as well and went into cabin.

More than a year ago

No POV

"Where is Serena?!" Shauna yelled, they were all sitting at cafe waiting for one person. They were in Lumiose city. They all came here, because Shauna told them and nobody tried to tell her no, it is not like they didn't want to.

"You know her Shauna, I am pretty sure I will see another bulge on her forehead." said boy sitting next to her. He had longer black hair with grey eyes, tapping with his light skin hand on red cap. He wore his classic blue jacket with white lines around his zipper and sides and trousers and black forest boots. His eyes lit up as he noticed her running out of the bus. "And there she comes."

"Sorry guys!" Serena yelled as she ran to them. "I-"

"Overslept? Trained with your mum in the morning? Which one Sere?" boy stood up and smiled and Serena did too. "I guess overslept." he said as she came closer for him to see classic bulge on her forehead and kissed it.

"Thanks Calem, always help." Serena said and looked over him to others. "Hey guys!" Serena said and all of them waved at her. Both of them sat down next to each other and looked at Shauna. "So what are we doing here? From your call, it sounded very important."

"Yes it is. And it has to do with you and Miette and I am really thinking about this much."

Presence

Serena POV

I put all accessories on Fennekin. I decided to have her on this Theme Perfomance and let all out to watch. I combed my hair, when I got very startled by hands on my shoulders. "I see you are new here." I looked around to see girl with deep dark skin with long black curly hair. She was high with slender figure and she wore green long dress wider at the feet.

"Am I that obvious?" I asked with slight chuckle and closed my eyes and shook with my head playfully.

"Kinda. You see, all new performers do the same thing. They dress up their pokemon for the first round, which is not a good idea and it is not needed. We never know what is the competition gonna prepare." she said and pointed her hand on Fennekin.

"Oh thanks, I didn't know that. Ha, guess I will put it all down now." I kneeled down to Fennekin, feeling even more nervous.

"Let me help." she was next to me and helped me with untying a suit.

"Thanks, I guess you have already done showcases. Did you win some?" I wanted to know if she did this.

"I did. I loved to watch pokemon showcases since I first saw them like a child. I won one after my attempts." this made me even more scared.

"How many times did you tried?"

"Hmm? I would think it was about six times I tried. Seventh attempt was the one I won." after those words, she seemed to notice how I reacted. "Hey calm down, if you stress yourself, you will just forget important things. Just be prepared for anything... sorry, what is your name?"

"Serena, you?"

"Shahzadi. So what did made you start with showcases?"

"I wanted something new in my life." I say, but it is much more and I did not wanted to talk about it to her.

"You chose something very hard Serena." this made me flinch for a moment, but she didn't notice. "Showcases are very complicated. The moment you walk out there, you must show with your pokemon no fear, show determination, make no mistake. People vote for you everytime and everytime you must be prepared to show them something new and be prepared for anything. That is how we can impress people to make them see the beautiful thing about showcases." her words made me feel once again many emotions. Fear, awe and determination." Are you prepared for that? "

I was silent for a moment, thinking about my next words. Fennekin looked up to me and had big smile and I smiled back. "I think I am."

Past

No POV

"So let me get this right. You want us to get all things we need and tomorrow, we would go on our adventure, leaving all responsibilities behind?" Trevor asked after Shauna explained her idea.

"Not tomorrow, but like in a week or two. What do you say?" Shauna asked and sipped her coffee.

"Let me just-I AM IN!" Tierno exclaimed. Shauna giggled at his reaction and turned to Trevor.

"What about you? Don't tell me you wouldn't, after all you don't enjoy your type of photographing." Trevor changed in that fully red.

"If you tell me again that the reason I don't like to take photos of girls is because I am gay, I will tell last time I am not." everybody laughed and after a moment Trevor joined them. "But you are right, after meeting Todd, I can't wait here and expect all pokemon to come here."

"Ok that is three of us, what about you two Luvdiscs?" Shauna asked and Calem shrugged.

"I mean on one side, I am gonna miss those pictures Trevor." Calem laughed as Serena punched him to his hip. "Get it, but back to this. It is up to Serena." Calem turned and looked at Serena who froze upon hearing this.

Presence

No POV

Everybody sat and watched how girls walked out to show their pokemon, Bonnie and Clemont watched without worries, but Ash had two different. One was just a hint, the other was for somebody, but he believed in her. But that wasn't the problem.

Did she believed in herself?

Before Ash could think more, this time was Dawn showing her Piplup and she once again impressed Ash and her usefull hands. Piplup had black jacket with white fabric on front and black bow. Dawn wore blue dress in similiar colors like Piplup's feathers. Serena made a small bow down, holding sides of her dress, and Piplup trapped with its wing on chest to show honor to be by her side. With this, Ash, Bonnie and Clemont voted for her with her color, which was dark blue and Dawn won this round with no worries.

After that came many other performers, some succeeded and other failed. Some took the win with joy, some took as they already knew they would get it. Those who failed just smiled sadly and walked away or got angry and stormed out from stage.

And after all those, they saw her. She had a big smile and her eyes roamed over audience and they shined even more after seeing her friends. After that, they all went inside their booths and started to design. Serena remembered all of her memories watching with Fennekin some fashion shows, changing channels when they got to the point where pokemon were more clothes and makeup than pokemon.

After the time was up, Serena was suppose to walk out last and it made her scared even more after she heard all those 'wow' it made her to think how she was suppose to win. Shahzadi and Dawn already got through. But she let the fear go away and walked out with big smile, which grew even more after public cheered for her.

Ash watched how Serena was happy and was proud. She was so scared before but she got more determined after she walked in. He could see it and she had so big smile he has never seer.

And after that, it all went away with that small slip.

Past

Serena was lying home on her bed, her mind full of remorse. She just screwed up her good part of life. Just because of those stupid words. It was a few weeks after Tierno, Shauna and Trevor left to live up to their lives. Fennekin was lying right beside her, being petted by her slow hand.

The sudden knock on the door made her to look up to see her mother. "Serena there is somebody to see you." Serena stood up and walked down. Her thoughts froze after she saw who was standing in doors. Calem.

"Hey Serena." he waved and suggested to go walk out. As Serena walked out of the house, memories ran through mind.

"I hope you will get fine Shauna." Serena said and hugged after she talked with other two boys. "Do you know what are you gonna do?"

"Nope, but maybe those Showcases." both of them giggled at this.

"Yeah if you want to kill your pokemon by makeup."

After all of them said goodbyes, they watched them walk away. Serena got even more uncomfortable after standing with Calem alone. She was never feeling this way around Calem but after their meeting in cafe, it did not go well since then.

"Serena we need to talk and I know you won't like it, but we have to." Serena tried to say something to dodge this, but Calem shook his head. "You rejected to come with me and them to travel around Kalos because? I don't get you sometime Serena and I want to so help me understand."

"I-I guess, I think I would just waste by trying to travel around Kalos or everywhere. I screw up everything Calem."

"Ok, but that doesn't mean you have to stay here. You hate rhyhorn racing. We could be just together and traveling around. You know, exploring." these words hit the point Serena didn't want to reach and Calem knew it. "Sere do you want to be with me?"

Serena stuttered and after her fails, she sighed. "It is a lot for me Calem."

Calem sighed as well, but frustrated. "Ok....ok, let me ask one simple question Sere." Serena looked up to Calem who had hesitant in his eyes.

"Do you love me, Sere?"

"I know we have been in really bad space between us." he slightly chuckled. 'yeah because you are breaking up you dumbass!' he thought to himself. "There has been one thing I wanted to ask you." he took a deep breath and said those words. "I want you to travel with me and not here in Kalos and I know what you said. But maybe this could be another way. You say you are scared you would screw up what you did so far? So start from the new beginning."

Serena shook her head and sighed. "I don't think that is a good idea Calem."

"It wouldn't be like us being couple. That is done for now. New start for both of us as well." Calem tried once more, but Serena didn't changed her thoughts.

"I just don't know Calem anymore what to do with my life. I am lost like I was a few years ago and I got the right push and I am trying to get to push myself, but I can't. I can't even find a right push Calem." Calem sighed, but nodded. Surprising Serena, he leaned in and have her last kiss on cheek. She didn't know how to react, but blushed.
"I guess I can still make you blush." Calem chuckled and Serena slightly smiled. "I will go probably next week. Wanna try to spend some time together?" Serena nodded and went away with him.

Presence

Serena POV

I ran, ran and ran after I was right on the wooden pier. I heard all of my pokemon behind me, but I couldn't stop my crying. My fear, my failure and my emotions got best of me and it was justified. As I told Calem that time, I screw up everything.

I didn't even notice, but how could I when I saw only tears and sunset's beams, person behind me. I got lifted up and my face was pressed against big chest and felt stroking on my hair. I sobbed into the chest thinking about all the things. Only small part of my brain was thinking about who could have been one holding me, but part of me knew and and learned it the next second.

"It is fine Serena. Just let it get out of you. You will feel better." these words made me feel even worse.

"H-h-h-how can I-I-I can get better Ash? I-I screwed up." I stuttered out, but it seemed to make Ash even more to calm down.

"So you screwed up Serena, you will get over it and get stronger with it." I was trying to talk again but Ash seemed to read my mind. "I screwed up too Serena, I did many times Serena and I broke Serena, but I got over it and let it make me stronger. I had friends who helped me and you have aswell. You have me, Bonnie, Clemont and others." he said with soft voice and it got me even more calm.

"And i-if I can get out there to go on next showcase, how am I suppose to get stronger when I feel only fear everytime out there." I finally got myself to say normal sentences.

"To me, that look you had after you walked out from booth, you had big smile." and when I tried to say something, he showed me again how much he knows me. "I know you were scared, but I am as well all the time I go out to battle Serena. I am always scared Serena when I fight. Serena, being feared is the right thing to do because you never take anything as easy. But my determination, enthusiasm for the challenge and mine pokemon who wants the same can help me overcome my fear. You felt that determination, everything good when you walked out Serena. You just have to believe in yourself again." I didn't notice mine tears stopped almost when Ash wiped away a tear and I looked up at him and he had big smile. "You just have to stand up and smile."

And this feeling is here again like back to that fountain, that talk in forest.

'This is more than just a crush.'

'This is more than just with the Calem.'

'Do you love me?'

I love Ash Ketchum.

"Thanks Ash." I said as I blushed, but he didn't notice, just smiled more.

No POV

30 minutes later

"Where is Serena? She seemed pretty shaken up." Dawn asked after Ash returned. Although she won, she knew how badly Serena took it.

"She said that she wanted a few minutes alone." Ash said, when the door opened and to everyones surprise, Serena stood there looking completely different. She wore a light pink dress over a grayish-black tank-top with a white collar. The dress was tied at the collar with a blue ribbon. Over her dress, she wore a long red vest with large pockets. She also wore black stockings and brown boots. On her head, she wore a pink-red fedora with a black hatband and carried a pink backpack. The main thing everybody noticed was that her long honey-blond hair were now only to her shoulders.

"Wow! Nice outfit, but I must say I like those longer hair more." Bonnie said with small whined, but Ash gave her a small slap over head.

"I think it suits her." he said with big smile and Serena smiled back with pink cheeks.

"Thanks Ash." Serena said as she knew her new part of the life was starting, not just her life as being performer, but as well her new feelings for Ash.