1. Ash's Story (Part 7: Kalos)

Chapter 37

"We made it! Laverre City!" Serena says, and we are happy to be here.

"Alright! Let's go to the gym now!" I say. Clemont says, "You're really ready to move, huh?"

"You bet I am! If I manage to beat Aunt Valerie, I'm going to win my sixth badge! Two more, then the Kalos League." I say.

As we head to the gym, we are greeted by Alice and her sisters. "Flora! Eve! Alice!"

"Ash! Serena! You guys are here!" Alice says as we share hugs. "Elline and David are here as well!" Eve says.

"So this is your traveling group?" Flora asks.

"Yeah." I say. "This is Clemont and his sister Bonnie. Clemont is the gym leader of Lumiose City. This is Alice, Eve, and Flora."

"We've heard a lot about you." Clemont says, "It's nice to finally meet you."

"You guys are keepers!" Then Bonnie tries to do the same thing to them, though Clemont has to drag her away. Alice says, "Weird... since you're here, does that mean you're finally going to challenge Mom for the gym badge?"

"Of course, this is going to be my sixth." I say. "Is she available now?"

Eve says, "The thing is, Sakura is now really busy..."

As we enter the store, we find that a lot of workers are moving the boxes, and there is also a boy who keeps asking Linnea to have a gym battle with Valerie. Alice says, "Today, the gym is closed because there's going to be an event here today."

"What kind of event?" Elline asks.

"The Fashion Show of course." Eve says.

The boy who got rejected for battle recognizes Clemont, and Clemont introduces us as Sawyer, who comes from the Hoenn Region, and is also attending the Kalos League.

"So you're challenging the gyms too. How many badges do you have?" I ask.

"So far, one." He says. "I really want to get some more battling under my belt."

We learn that he has a Treecko and a Bagon. Flora says, "That reminds me, since you are here, why don't we all meet Mom?"

"Of course." I say with a smile as we all head to find Valerie. Alice yells, "Mom! Look who has come!"

Valerie turns around and smiles, "Well if it isn't Ash? How are you?"

"Great, Ms. Valerie." I say. "We decide to stop by because I'm now participating in the Kalos League."

"That's wonderful. So I'm the one you're challenging next?" Valerie asks.

Then Valerie's Sylveon and Spritzee also greet us, and I say, "It's nice to see you as well!"

Our Eevee approaches the Sylveon, and the two of them have become great friends. After Clemont, Sawyer, and Bonnie introduce themselves, Valerie says, "Since you're here, I'm sure that Scarlet is available, right?"

I know what she's trying to do, and I say, "Sorry about that, Ms. Valerie. But you see... Scarlet and I are now separated since Scarlet is on her quest to become the Kalos Queen... The last time we've met was back in Coumarine City..."

"Wait, you used Double Team again?" Alice asks.

"Yeah..." I say with a sigh.

"Well, it's a shame... you see, two of our workers are ill and we need to find substitute models..." Valerie says.

Eve says, "Obviously she can't choose us since we're already in the modeling group."

I say, "Then Serena, how about you do it?"