Pokémon XY: Trying Something New

Another Serena in Another World!?

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After the adventure with Diancie had finally been settled, the group turned their attention back to their next destination: Shalour City. Korrina and her gym badge were waiting for them, and Ash especially was rip-roaring and ready to go. Just a mention of the city would fire up his excitement.

Yet, while Ash was focused on where tomorrow was leading them, Serena just couldn't seem to escape yesterday.

Sprinting past pale trees, flying through the air to avoid certain death, splitting pitch-black skies with blasts of amazing energy- It all played in Serena's mind, sending her heart fluttering with a familiar feeling. It was the rush of adrenaline, coursing through her veins.

Through it all, though, there was one memory her heart was set on the most.

"I hope we can meet again, so I can show you the person I want to be."

Serena had made a promise to Diancie, to show her that person she wanted to become one day. Which meant, Serena had to decide who that was exactly. The thought terrified her as much as it excited her.

Glancing over to Ash, Serena reflected on the last few days of their travels.

Since the group parted ways with Diancie, Ash threw himself into training with a fire she'd never seen from the boy. Back-to-back practice sessions, relentless sparring exercises, working to master his team's moves- it was all on the table. Serena almost felt bad for his Pokemon, if it wasn't for the fact they were as determined as he was to overcome Korrina.

The life Ash lived, it certainly wasn't easy. Yet, that didn't diminish the allure of it, at all.

Was she seriously considering becoming a Gym Challenger like Ash? Serena had asked herself that question a dozen times by now, and the answer had yet to be 'no'. Perhaps it was time to admit, it should be 'yes'.

Before Serena could complete that thought, she was saved from the crippling terror of commitment- A fork in the road had brought the group to a halt.

"Huh? I thought it was a straight shot to Shalour City from here?" Ash asked. A weathered sign pointed in two opposing directions, one towards a mountain looming in the distance, and the other deeper into the woods the group had been trekking.

"Oh it is! The path on the left is just a minor detour," Clemont clarified, as he pulled up the map he'd been holding onto. "Though reportedly, going through Reflection Cave can cut a few days of traveling."

Ash perked up at Clemont's words.

"Whoa, wait, you're saying if we take this path, we'll get to Shalour City faster? Well why aren't we doing that!" The rather excitable Ash was living up to that descriptor, as his usual passionate fervor began to shine through.

"Well, it's not that simple," Clemont said, folding up the map as he did so. "Reflection Cave is a bit of a maze. It's said it's very easy to get lost in there!"

"Aww come on Clemont, when have we ever gotten lost?" Clemont's explanation took some wind from Ash's sails, but it didn't completely deflate his enthusiasm. What came next came close though.

"What about the two days we were stuck in that bamboo forest on the way to Cyllage City?" Clemont immediately countered.

"Or when we accidentally doubled back after Ambrette Town? We wasted half a week going the wrong way," Serena added, doubling the evidence against Ash's claim.

"Or that time we got lost in that glittery cave and had to call for help to find a way out!" And just like that, Bonnie came in with Ash's third strike, demolishing what he surely thought was a great argument.