I can make you laugh

Wednesday Part 4- Old friends, new feelings

Serena stepped towards Ash and hugged him hard, causing Gladion to frown slightly. As he watched the two hug, he felt a strange sensation grow inside his stomach, which was weird because he didn't have this feeling around Iris.

"What are you doing in Unova, Serena?" Ash asked excitedly.

"Shauna and I are visiting Mr Santo here in Striaton City," Serena explained. "You know, one of the judges from the Pokémon Showcases? Anyway, he wants to bring the showcases to Unova and he wants mine and Shauna's help in doing so."

"That's so great," Ash smiled. "So why are you here at the gym?"

"Shauna and I came for lunch..."

Flashback:

"Can you believe we're in Unova?!" Shauna squealed in excitement.

"I still can't believe that Mr Santo contacted us about bringing Showcases to Unova," Serena said as she took in the surroundings. "It feels very overwhelming!"

"You know why he chose us, right?" Shauna beamed as she wrapped her arms around Serena.

"No, I don't," Serena admitted.

"Seriously?" Shauna squealed. "It's because we dance together so well. Also, you're one of the best Poképuff bakers in the world and I know how to create specialty videos. And after the performance we put on together in Kalos after the Kalos disaster, Mr Santo wanted to use us to promote showcases here in Unova. Also, we're the first romantic couple within Pokémon showcases. Mr Santo wants to show the world how couples can work together in participating in showcases. We will essentially inspire couples to participate! It's going to be incredible!"

Serena smiled at her girlfriend's excitement.

"How are you so confident and positive?" she asked.

Shauna blushed before looking shy.

"Honestly, I'm actually nervous," Shauna admitted before beaming. "But I have you and we have our Pokémon. Together, I feel like we can achieve anything."

"You have so much confidence and faith in me," Serena smiled as she hugged Shauna.

"Because you give me love and happiness," Shauna said back. "Oh, look."

Serena turned her head in the direction Shauna was gesturing.

"That's the Striaton Gym," Shauna said. "I've been told it's also a wonderful restaurant. You want to get some lunch?"

"Please."

Taking each other's hands, the two girls made their way towards the gym and knocked on the door. After a moment, the door opened to reveal three handsome males, one with red hair, one with blue and the third with green.

"Hello," the green-haired male said politely. "Are you here for lunch or a gym battle?"

"Lunch please," Serena said.

"Of course," he said as the other two opened the doors wider. "Welcome to our restaurant. My name is Cilan and these are my brothers, Chilli and Cress. We have some other guests at the moment but it won't affect us serving you."

"That's alright," Shauna grinned. "My name is Shauna and this is my beautiful girlfriend Serena."

"Lovely to meet you both," Chilli said. "Please follow us."

The two followed Cress as he led them inside to a table. Serena and Shauna looked around in amazement until their eyes fell on a group of people about their age with some interesting-looking Pokémon, except for one.

"Pikachu?" Serena said as she stood up. "Is that you, Pikachu?"

"Pika?" Pikachu turned, his whole face lighting up in excitement as he rushed over. "Pika!"

"Oh Pikachu, it is you," Serena said as she caught the electric mouse before hugging him tightly.

"Hi Pikachu," Shauna smiled as she scratched Pikachu's head, causing Pikachu to squeal happily.

"It's so wonderful to see you," Serena smiled before looking surpirsed. "Wait, if you're here, does that mean Ash is too?"

"Pika, pika, pika!" Pikachu squealed again.

"You know Ash?"

Serena and Shauna looked in the direction of the question to see a girl wearing a white dress.

"Yes," Serena said. "We travelled through Kalos together."

"Wait a minute, you're Serena, aren't you?" the girl asked.

Serena nodded.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Lillie," the girl smiled with a bow. "Ash has told us all about you."

"I thought you looked familiar," Serena smiled as she and Shauna stepped closer. "I recognise all of you from Ash's letters and photos. Lillie, Kiawe, Mallow, Lana and Sophocles. And I'm assuming that's Mimo, Kiawe's little sister and you two are Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet. It's so lovely to meet you all. My name is Serena and this is my girlfriend Shauna."

"Nice to meet you all," Shauna said.

"So, what brings you to Unova?" Lana asked. "Ash told us you were doing Pokémon contests in the Hoenn region."

"I was," Serena said as she put Pikachu down. "Shauna and I have been preforming together in Hoenn and Sinnoh. But we were invited by Pokémon Connoisseur Santo to come to Striaton City. He wants to bring contests and showcase to Unova."

Cilan gasped.

"You know S-class Connoisseur Santo?" he asked. "What an honour."

Serena and Shauna blushed.

"At the moment, he's running errands to think up ideas for showcases and contests to be held in Unova," Shauna explained. "So, he told us to explore a little and here we are."

Serena looked around.

"Where is Ash?"

"He and my brother Gladion are getting changed because they fell into a fountain," Lillie explained. Serena and Shauna smiled.

"Oh Ash," Serena sighed before she lit up in excitement.

"Hey Shauna," Serena grinned. "Let's put on a performance for everyone!"

Shauna's eyes shone.

"Really?" she asked. "But we're still working our routine out."

"It doesn't matter," Serena said. "It would be so much fun and everyone can meet our Pokémon."

Shauna glowed.

"You know I can't say no to dancing with you."

"Okay," Serena said as she took her bag off her back. "In here are the costumes and here are my Pokeballs. You go set everyone up. I'll surprise Ash."

"I'm so excited," Shauna squealed as she took the bag and the Pokémon before asking Cress to show her where she could get changed.

"I'll go get Ash and Gladion," Cilan said as he left the room while Chilli and everyone helped set up the chairs in front of a massive curtain.

End of Flashback:

"I still can't believe you and Shauna are here in Unova," Ash smiled. "And you and Shauna are together now? I'm so happy for the both of you. You two are perfect for each other."

Serena blushed.

"Yeah, it just happened."

"So, you've met everyone?" Ash asked.

"Everyone except the mysterious one standing behind you," Serena informed him.

Ash's eyes widened as he turned to look at Gladion, who had a blank look on his face.

"I'm so sorry Gladion, I got excited," Ash said sheepishly. "This is Serena. We travelled through the Kalos region together. And Serena, this is Gladion, my friend and Lillie's older brother."

"So, you're the mysterious Gladion Ash has told me about," Serena smiled kindly. "It's lovely to meet you. I'd introduce my girlfriend too but she's getting changed."

"Hello," Gladion said politely, secretly relieved that Serena had a girlfriend.

"Serena!"

Serena turned to see Shauna's head peering out from behind the curtain.

"Come on Serena!" Shauna said excitedly. "We're almost ready and you still need to change. Hi Ash!"

"Hi Shauna," Ash grinned. "This is Gladion."

"Lovely to meet you," Shauna grinned. "Come on Serena! Don't make me come over there and get you! You know I will!"

Serena blushed.

"Please excuse me," she said before quickly running to the curtain, much to Ash and Gladion's amusement.

"Let's go sit down," Ash said as he took Gladion's hand and led him to the seats. Gladion smiled softly at Ash holding his hand. As they took their seats, they saw the Pokémon sitting in front, looking eagerly at the curtain.

"So, Ash, what exactly is a Pokémon performance?" Kiawe asked.

"It's part of something called a Pokémon Showcase," Ash explained. "First a group of girls do some activities with their Pokémon like quizzes or baking and then those who past the first round do something called a freestyle performance. They'll dance and perform with their Pokémon while showing off the Pokémon's moves and then the audience decides who wins. It's really cool."

"Everyone ready?" Serena called from behind the curtain.

"Ready!" Ash called back. Serena and Shauna came walking out wearing beautiful dresses before doing a couple of spins and then opening the curtain, revealing a group of Pokémon wearing outfits. Immediately, Rotom started to take pictures.

"Kirlia, the Emotion Pokémon. A psychic and fairy type. It's said that a Kirlia that is exposed to the positive emotions of its trainer will grow very beautiful. Braixen, the Fox Pokémon. A fire type and the evolved form of Fennekin. It has a twig stuck in its tail. With friction from its tail fur, it can set the twig on fire and use it in battle. Pancham, the Playful Pokémon. A fighting type. It tries to intimidate its enemies but its glare isn't very intimidating. The leaf in its mouth is its trademark. Sylveon, the Intertwining Pokémon. A fairy type and an evolved form of Eevee. It wraps its ribbonlike feelers around its trainer's arm and walks with them."

"Braixen, Pancham and Sylveon are Serena's Pokémon," Ash explained. "Hey, did you catch Kirlia too, Serena?"

"I did," she grinned.

"So cool."

You interrupted me Ash!" Rotom snapped while Ash smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry."

"Ahem," Rotom said. "Ivysaur, the Seed Pokémon. A grass and poison type and the evolved form of Bulbasaur. If an Ivysaur spends a lot of time lying in the sun, the bulb on its back will eventually turn into a large flower. Gothorita, the Manipulate Pokémon. A psychic type. Starlight is the source of their power and at night, they mark star positions by using their psychic powers to float stones. Flabebe, the Single Bloom Pokémon. A fairy type. When it finds a flower it likes, it stays with that flower for its whole life. It floats along the wind. Swirlix, the Cotton Candy Pokémon. A fairy type. Because it eats nothing except sweets, its fur is a sweet and sticky like cotton candy."

"And your Gothita evolved, Shauna," Ash said. "That's awesome!"

"Thank you, Ash," Shauna smiled as she and Serena grabbed each other hands.

"Let's go!" They both cried as they started to dance together.