Pokemon X & Y Reimagined

Chapter 6: Leave it to Serena!? The Charging Rhyhorn Race!

Serena savored the cool sensation when she wiped her sweat-covered face with a rag dampened from the river in front of her and Fennekin. Both had finished their morning run, and Fennkin looked up at Serena with a longing expression as she whined over her soaked fur.

"I've got you, Fennekin." Serena beamed a bright smile and placed Fennekin into the stream. Fennekin purred in delight during her bath despite her nature as a fire-type. Serena likewise hummed in a spirited tune with each stroke until she rubbed Fennekin dry with a towel. "There, nice and clean. Come on. I'll brush you back at the campsite."

"Fenn!" Fennekin's bushy tail wagged fast in Serena's arms. It only took them a minute or so before they got back to the camp. There, Serena saw Clemont and Bunnelby against a tree gasping for breath and soaked from head to two in sweat. Bonnie stood over them, hands on her hips with an iron expression.

"You're pathetic, brother. You quit after an hour, but Ash and his team are still going strong." Bonnie shot a finger across the campsite where Ash trained. Serena giggled a little with Fennekin at Bonnie's scolding of Clemont before her eyes fixed on Ash.

"That's it, keep it up!"

"Grou!" Ash wore a pair of boxing mitts and blocked incoming punches and kicks from Riolu. The little aura pokemon howled in delight with each blow. Ash kept up with his newest pokemon and even mixed in a few strikes of his own to keep Riolu on edge. Serena giggled again, and her cheeks turned a little pink when she saw Ash's training. She sat down against a tree and brushed Fennekin, who purred and nodded off to sleep amid her grooming.

"Iron Tail, Dragon Tail! Cut, Peck!" Ash directed his other pokemon even as he sparred with Riolu. Pikachu and Charizard clashed with each other and shook the surrounding tree branches and bushes with their blows, while Froakie and Fletchling did the same but with much less impact. Serena's eyes remained fixed on Ash despite her diligent brushing of Fennekin. The passion and enthusiasm on Ash's face and every move filled Serena with a sense of delight as if his dedication spread to her. Serena pictured herself with Fennekin before a vast crowd who lit up in joy and happiness from their performance.

"Hmm." Serena almost dozed off when a harsh thud snapped her and Fennekin awake. Both saw Ash's right mitt go backward while he grinned.

"Awesome, I think you just learned Feint."

"Grou!" Riolu threw his fist into the air and panted.

"Alright, that's enough for now, Riolu. Froakie, your turn."

"Froak." Froakie nodded with a broad smile and hopped over. However, Serena saw Riolu's excitement contort into a fierce growl full of unmistakable envy.

"Grou!" Riolu shouted and tried to get in Froakie's path. However, Ash gave his youngest pokemon a stern look alongside Pikachu and Charizard, who backed him up.

"Riolu, Froakie gets his turn with me too, then Pikachu after him."

"Grou!" Riolu growled before Charizard picked him up and carried him away.

"Grau." The fire lizard's much deeper growl had little effect on Riolu, who puffed up his cheeks when he saw Froakie spar with Ash and then Pikachu a few minutes later. Charizard did his best to instruct Riolu but the little pokemon kept up his rebellious demeanor.

"He wants Ash all to himself." Serena thought to herself. She giggled a little upon realizing that her and Riolu had some things in common. Ash's training went on for another hour, during which Serena finished grooming Fennekin then helped Clemont make breakfast.

"Fenn." Fennekin breathed a little more fire to stoke the flames under the pot. Serena glanced back at Ash every few minutes, but the intensity of his training did not slow even as sweat soaked him and his team as if they emerged from a lake.