After the performances concluded on the main stage, Ash and his friends partook in the festival's "afterparty" activities. There were food stands, game stands, clothing stands, and any other type of stand that the gang could imagine. From jugglers to fire eaters, there were also various kinds of street performers entertaining guests with their Pokémon. It was a night of celebration because, after May's performance, the With You Festival managed to raise more than triple the amount of its desired goal. The festival was a resounding success for the performers, the attendees, and Kalos.
"Look at all the pretty women for my brother. There are so many keepers!" Bonnie clasped her hands together and hopped from woman to woman to ask their hand in matrimony for Clemont. "You're a keeper, please take care of my brother?!" Bonnie didn't even give any woman a chance to respond. "You're a keeper too. Will you please take care of my brother?!" the little blonde girl continued gushing.
Clemont struggled to keep his composure. The gym leader heavily blushed, "Bonnie, enough! How many times are we going to do this?!" He used his Aipom arm to pull Bonnie away.
The siblings' friends became amused by their antics and laughed. They kept walking through the grounds in search of things to do, but there was so much to choose from.
Serena and May were blown away by the number of things they could participate in throughout the festival grounds. "Aria outdid herself with this one," Serena commented.
"I agree. It was sweet of her to put all this together to help the region," May thought of the famous Kalos Queen.
"Serena, May, now this is a sight I wasn't expecting," an older woman came up behind them.
The gang turned around, but Serena and May instantly recognized her. "Palermo," the young girls greeted her simultaneously. Serena assumed May knew her for being in the same celebrity circle as Aria, Wallace, etc.
"Are you here to help Aria keep everything in order?" May asked her old friend.
"Basically, but Aria insisted I also attend for some fun. Unfortunately, she couldn't be here due to other commitments. You know how it is, May," Palermo chuckled.
"All too well," May sighed with a sheepish grin.
"I was thrilled to see both of you perform tonight. I had no idea you were friends," Aria's mentor pointed out.
"We met through a mutual friend," Serena looked back at Ash, who wandered off to the hot dog stand with Clemont and Bonnie.
Palermo recognized him. "That's right, the runner-up in the Kalos League and the Lumiose Gym Leader. My, what an interesting circle of friends you girls have."
Serena and May giggled at the reality; the world seemed so small at that moment. "Palermo, I've been competing in Hoenn as you suggested," Serena excitedly informed her.
"So, I've heard. It sounds like you're working hard on making people smile through your performances as you intended," Palermo smiled approvingly, which Serena happily nodded at.
May looked at Serena with wonder. So that's what drives Serena, the top coordinator realized. The brunette admired the performer for how fearlessly she was pushing herself on her journey. The sapphire-eyed coordinator was nowhere near as good as Serena at that stage in her adventures. Serena's eyes glistened with the same fulfillment May's did before she did more photoshoots and interviews than performances. She longed for the thrill of a good old-fashioned adventure.
Palermo noticed the time, "Well if you'll please excuse me. I have to check on some staff. Please enjoy the rest of the festival on my behalf."
"Thank you, it was nice seeing you," May bowed at the older woman.
YOU ARE READING
Man in the Mirror
Roman d'amourAsh has just finished his journey in Kalos, but what happens when Serena gives him something to think about? At the same time May has reached the peak of her success. What happens when an old friendship between two friends is rediscovered and someth...
