Pokemon Heart and Mind: The Persici Prequel

Chapter Ten: Beware the Frozen Heart

Chapter Ten

Beware the Frozen Heart

Songs:

Opening from "Frozen"

"Stand By You", Rachel Platten

"So, where were you all planning to head out to from here?" Maria asked curiously. The group of them had finally gotten back to the Pokemon Center. A crowd had practically rushed them after defeating Team Rocket's robot. Everyone, it seemed, wanted to know who they were, how they did it, etc. Thankfully, at the influx of people, Officer Jenny and some of her colleagues were able to get them out of there by cop car back to the Pokemon Center.

They sat around one of the tables in the center's cafe, eating a late lunch.

Ash took a bite of his cheeseburger, and then looked up at Maria. "We were planning on staying here for a couple of days. You see, Serena is a coordinator and performer. She wanted to check out the contest they are having here before we headed off somewhere else."

Serena nodded, and held her cup in her hand. "Yeah. I want to get an idea of how they work here before I actually do one. I've heard they are a little different from the contests in Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Kanto."

Mary nodded, and leaned forward in earnest. "Yeah. I've never attended one, but I've heard they are pretty big events here in Persici. In school they said that during the talent rounds, you have full access to lighting, sound, and staging. I've been told it's a pretty incredible sight to behold. But people can only make it to that round if they can pass the battle round and move showcase."

Serena's eyes began to glimmer happily, and she clasped her hands together. "Whoa! A full stage production! That sounds amazing!"

"Honestly, since we've never gotten to see one before, I think it would actually be a lot of fun to stay and actually see it." Maria handed one of her french fries to Stryke, who took it happily. "Do you all know where you want to head next?"

Ash shook his head, and glanced at Serena. "I don't know. We talked about on the plane some various places we wanted to see, but, we hadn't made a decision."

Serena reached down, pulling out her port, and opened it up. "Let's see. Next week, there is another contest in Richland City, which, when we walk, it's about a couple days out from here. There's also a gym, too, Ash, so you can challenge the gym there."

Maria spoke up again. "There's a gym here too. Bu-"

Ash's eyes shot wide, looking at her in surprise. He stood to his feet. "There's a gym here? Where?"

Serena reached up and grabbed the sleeve on his shirt, pulling him back down. She sighed, shaking her head. "Ash, chill! You just interrupted her."

He looked at Serena in surprise, and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "Uh, Sorry Maria. What were you saying?"

Maria cleared her throat, and gave him a slightly irritated look. "As I was saying, the gym is closed right now though. Officer Jenny told me. The gym leader is currently out at sea for a vacation."

"Oh." Ash took another bite of his burger, an awkward look on his face.

Serena smiled at Ash and then turned back to Maria. "Ash gets really pumped up and excited about gym battles, or battling in general. It's his favorite thing."

Ash grinned, chuckling. "Oh yeah! Definitely! I really want to enter the Champion League, finally, and get closer to my dream of becoming a Pokemon Master."