"Miss Natalie, you have a call." Nurse Joy turns around, "Hm?" I stand up and Alain follows, "I think it's best if you stay here." I look up at him, "Huh?" He was confused, "I'll be a sec." I kiss his cheek and walk to the monitor and put on the headphones, "What the hell did I just watch on TV!" My mum shouts at me, I rest my hands on the table and take deep breaths, "Was that beautiful! Was that graceful! No! What the hell were you thinking! You're a Performer Nat! What did I just watch on TV!" She shouts again, I choke down sobs, "I... I didn't try to-" But she cut me off, "BUT YOU STILL DID! When I first let you go on your quest, don't think I didn't realise that you went to defeat the Unova Pokémon League. I told you to capture the more adorable, showcase Pokémon, and what the did you bring home?! A Noivern, Lucario, Arcanine, Weavile, you even went as far as to get a Garchomp are you kidding me! Leafon is your only someone showcaseable Pokémon. I've already mailed you your dress for your next showcase. Next time I see you, it better be with your first Princess Key." She says, "Yes. Sorry, I was wrong, I don't know what I was thinking Mum." I smile sadly, "I've got to go now. My Pokémon have healed up." I hold back tears, "See if you hadn't fought then they wouldn't need healing in the first plac-" I saw the monitor switch off, I look up and saw Alain ending the call, "Let's go." He wraps his arm around my waist, I bury my face into his shoulder as we walk out of the Pokécenter, he had already collected my Pokémon and we sat outside.
"Want to walk about it," He hands me a sandwich, the two of us were sitting on a bench, I was sprawled out, laying my head on his lap, "I hate everything. Mum is still forcing me to become a performer, she figured out I went into the Unova league, she even went as far as criticising my Pokémon, not calling them cute or adorable enough to showcase." I rub Arcanine's nose, he growls sadly and rests his chin on my stomach, "Well I think your Pokémon are amazing, they show the strength and bond you share as partner and trainer." Alain scratches Arcanine's cheek, he licks his hand, "He likes you." I smile sadly, "I need to go to Dendemille city. I get if you need to do your own thing though." I sit up and finish my sandwich, "Are you kidding? Who said I was leaving you? What boyfriend does that?" Alain looks at me, "And who said you were my boyfriend? You never properly asked me." I grin and stand up, he blushes, "Well I- uh..." He scratches his cheek and crosses his arms, trying to look away, I laugh, "Well Alain, will you be my boyfriend?" I lean down and rest my forehead on his, "I wanted to be the one to ask." He huffs like a kid, I laugh, "I'll take that as a yes." I give him a quick peck.
"We need to head to the post office to collect the parcel for my dress Mum sent." I grab his hand, he had his other in his pocket, not complaining as I drag him around town. "Here you go Miss." I was handed the parcel, "Thank you." I sign a slip of paper and take the parcel.
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We dropped some of our belongings into the hotel room we books in Dendemille city, "So. What do we think." I hold the dress up to my body and turn around, "Tada!" I show Alain, "I actually quite like it, shocking cause I usually hate wearing them." I grin, he blushes, "Pretty right... I'll take your silence as a yes." I bound over to the bed and jump onto it, spinning around, "Once I get three Princess Keys and I beat the Kalos Queen, my mum won't have anything else to say and I can finally try challenge the Kalos League." I jump onto Alain, "W-Woah!" He stumbles back as he catches me, "But not if you break your arm or leg before." He frowns slightly, I laugh, his face softens and he smiles, pressing a few kisses to my cheek.
"Let's see, where do I register?" I hear a voice, my ears prick up, "Serena?!" I saw a girl with short hair, "Nat!" She waves her arm, "What happened to your hair?" I look at it, "Isn't it great! A new look." She spins around, "It looks amazing, should I cut mine." I hold my ponytail, "Serena!" Her friends run after her, "Who's this Serena?" Her friends ask, "Don't run off like that when we're in a big crowd, I'm scared I'm gonna lose you." Alain sighs and scratches his head, "Hi, I met Serena when I first set foot in Kalos. She was the first person I met actually. My name's Natalie but feel free to call me Nat." I smile and wave my hand, "That's great! My name's Ash Ketchum and I'm from Pallet Town. This is my buddy Pikachu." The boy with a Pikachu on his shoulder, "I'm Clemont and this is my little sister Bonnie." The boy with blond hair waves, "Hello!" She waves at me, "Nice to meet you all. This grump is Alain. He doesn't say much." I point at Alain, "Hold on..." Clemont stares at us, "No way! You two were the ones who beat Kyogre and Groudon! Not to mention you were the one who got Rayquaza on his back like a begging dog!" Clemont stares at me, everyone looks at us, "No, no. It wasn't that big a deal, honestly saving the Hoenn region was our biggest concern." I hold my hands out, "Serena!" Another voice pops up, "It's Miette." Ash looks at the girl running over, "Hi Slurpuff, it's nice to see ya." Bonnie smiles, her Slurpuff smiles, "That's an amazing Arcanine you have." Miette looks at him, he barks happily, "Are you a friend of Serena's as well?" She asks, I nod, "Nice to meet you, my name's Nat." I smile, "And what an adorable Slurpuff and Meowstic." I crouch down to the two Pokémon, "That's an amazing colouration on your Arcanine, I've never seen it before. I believe there's a phenomenon that mentions it." Clemont touches his chin, "There is!" I light up, he nods, "I believe they're called Shiny variations. Arcanines that have this yellow colour are one in four hundred and fifty." Clement touches his fur, "Well you hear that bud, you're pretty special." I scratch his chin, "Can I touch him! Oh please, please!" Bonnie asks, I smile and take a step to the side, "You can even ride him." I say, her eyes sparkle, "Oh yeah please!" She jumps up and down, I pick her up and place her on Arcanine's back, he takes a few steps in a circle and she giggles, "Almost reminds me of Mairin." I say sadly, "I'm sure she's safe and on her journey filled with lots of different Pokémon and adventures." Alain smiles. "So you cut your hair, did something big in your life happen?" Miette leans closer to Serena with a smug smiles, "What are you talking about!" She jumps back and blushes, she looks back slightly at Ash, "Forget that! I'm all ready to compete in this performance!" She tries to brush it off, "Oh don't tell me you've got a crush on A-" She slams her palm over my mouth, "Well, we've got another girl on the same page, good luck!" She smiles and runs off, "Good luck Miette!" Ash waves, "She's sure fired up." Ash says, "I'm fired up too!" Serena shouts, "Could you please..." Alain taps Serena's shoulder and saw I was about to pass out, "Oh! Sorry Nat..." She laughs nervously, I was dazed and shook it off, "Ash can be so dense." Bonnie smirks, "Bonnie what are you talking about?" Clemont asks, "Of course you're the same." She shakes her head, I laugh, "I like you." I hold my fist out to Bonnie and she gives me a light bump, Arcanine barks with her on his face and she giggles.
We were in the dressing room, waiting and ready, "Bonjour! Kalos region lovers of Pokémon! The Dandemille Rookie Showcase! We're all set to go so get ready!" Monsieur Pierre announces, we watched from the small screens, "I'm honoured to be your guide because I just adore the roar of the crowd and the smiles on all your faces! My name's Monsieur Pierre!" He appears from the circle in the centre of the stage, "Competing today for the ultimate title of Kalos Queen will be a collection of beautiful young ladies right before your eyes and the winner will be awarded the coveted Princess Key!" Klefki flies up and shows the key, "Performers will win three Princess Keys and will be awarded the chance to participate in the Master Class! It is the contestants from the Master Class who will be ultimately be chosen for Kalos Queen. Alors, will the future Kalos Queen come from among these young ladies? You won't be able to look away because the spellbinding battle for the Princess Key begins now!" Three kitchen workbenches appeared from on the stage, "Shit." I mutter to myself, staring at the screen, "Are you kidding me." I groan, "These Pokemon Performers will make beautiful, delicious Poképuff treats right in front of your eyes," Pierre says, "Are you alright Nat?" Serena walks to me, "You've got to help me Serena, I can cook yeah but I can't make desserts to save my life! I just add spice to everything and it works out." I grab her shoulders, she sweatdrops, "Oh you're thrown into the deep end." She pats my back as I flop down defeated, "Now it's time to meet our first group of three performers." He snaps his fingers, "Hey look, it's Miette." I point at the screen, "Our judges, Pokémon Connoisseur Santo, Poképuff Patissier Jena and Showcase Expert Delilah will judge the performer and their Poképuff treats to advance to the Freestyle round! Alors! It's time to make the Poképuffs!" The girls begin, "Think, think think." I try to jot down as many ideas for flavours as possible, "I'm sure you'll do great." Serena tries to calm me down, "What did I do to deserve you Serena." I cry waterfalls.
"Time's up!" The girls wait for the verdict, Alain ended up sitting with Ash, Clemont and Bonnie, watching the show, "The winner is..." Spotlights went everywhere, "The lovely Miette!" Pierre announces, the other two girls slouch down defeated while Miette holds her hand up waving happily. "That Miette is a true genius at making Poképuffs." Serena watches her, "Which Pokémon are you going to use?" Serena asks, I look at all six Pokéballs, "Hmm." I scratch my head, "That's it." I snap my fingers, "Weavile and Arcanine." I let them out, "Weavile!" "Arcanine!" Some of the girls mutter at me using such a large Pokémon, "Who cares about them Arcy, you'll do great." I fold his ears down for him and pretend to block them out.
"It's time for our next group of Performers!" I felt myself rising up, I look to my right and saw the girl next to me using a Sneasel, "Make your Poképuffs if you may!" The timer started, "Okay, we got this guys, just add spice like we always do." I look at the two of them, "Arcanine!" "Weavile." The two nod, I go to the berry selection, "Performer Natalie has gone to the Berry selection, which berries will she pick?" Pierre narrates, "Tomato berries? And Pecha berries?" The judges were confused, "I need you to slow roast these, makes sure the skin is charred Arcy." I say, he nods and starts a flame and grills them till they were burning, I throw the Pecha berries up, "Now Weavile, cut them up." I hold my elbow up and she hops on, I launch her into the air and she expertly cut the berries, "Geez, tell me to ask you to cut the veggies next time." I grin and pet her head, I had the Poképuff bases in the oven. "Time's almost up! Add your finishing touches!" Pierre says, "Ooh, ow, ow." I burn my fingers slightly when I peel the skin off the Tomato berries, I top them onto the Poképuff and add the fresh Pecha berries, "Now Weavile, use Icy Wind." I point at the plate, she uses a gentle Icy Wind which coats the Poképuffs in glittering ice and small ice crystals, "No way. It actually worked." I was in shock with myself, I close the dome over it, "Hit it with another Icy Wind." I open a small gap, she breathes the frost wind into the dome and I quickly shut it, "Nice!" I hold my hand up and we high five, "You did great too Arcy." I scratch his snout, "And time's up!" The timer burst into sparkles, "Now will you please present your Poképuffs!"
The judges went through all the Poképuffs, mine was last, "Now this was an interesting combo of Tomato and Pecha berries," Jena looks at the foggy dome, they open it up and the fog spills out onto the table like dry ice, "Yes. Oh my God, it worked, again." I freak out internally and hold my fingers out behind my back and Weavile jumps up and high fives it, the Pokémon sniff it before quickly devouring it, "My, my! What a reaction!" Pierre says, the crowd cheers loudly, "My Goodness, the spiciness of the Tomato berries have completely vanished leaving the robust flavour of the berry combining it with the sweet taste of Pecha berries! It's nothing I've ever seen before!" Jena was impressed, "And the Ice crystals add an exciting crunch and element to the dish, splendid!" Santo nods as his Mime Junior eats happily, "And the winner of this round is..." The spotlights go around, "The beautiful Natalie!" Pierre points his staff at me, the crowd claps, I sigh in relief, "Round one guys, we did it." I hug both of them.
