The Closest Ones

31. Stand up

No POV

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

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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.