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Most girls wake up feeling refreshed for the next day, happy, calm and well rested. Sometimes it’s the sun that gently caresses their face, sometimes it’s the crow of Dodrio or other bird-like Pokémon, sometimes it a gentle kiss that awakens them from their slumber.
Serena doesn’t get to have any of these choices.
Instead, Serena has woken up mad and thirsting for vengeance.
“Fletchling, you— Come back here!” She scrabbled around the room in a hazy post-sleep rush, her hair whipping around her face as she bared her teeth and pounced on her mini table. “You cannot keep waking me up like this!”
Said accused Pokémon tweeted cheerfully as it dodged all of her attempted attacks, landing on top of her head when she slumped on the table face. “I’m not going to forgive you for that, you know. Sleep with one eye open for the next week.”
“Serena, time for breakfast!”
Her mouth twisted downwards at the words, spoiling her mood even further. “Coming, maman,” she said under her breath, shaking her hair back as she stood up and trudged towards her closet, dislodging the tiny bird from her head.
She stared at the jumpsuit at the forefront of her clothes, prepared before the start of every morning.
This wasn’t how she wanted her life to be.
Serena was no stranger to travelling.
As a young girl she had watched her mother chase after the finishing line time and time again, in all kinds of places, in all sorts of regions. The region they have travelled the most to was Kanto, of course—where Rhyhorn are found in their native habits and where they were best bred. But Kalos was their true home, and once the top-winning Rhyhorn racer retired, it was their only home.
Her mother loved Rhyhorn racing. The dust, the speed, the sweat and adrenaline and heavy, heaving bodies pushing themselves past their limits.
Serena… doesn’t really love it as much as she should.
This particular morning, she was apparently going to be eating dust for breakfast.
“Maman, I can’t do this anymore!” She shakily stood up and dusted off her overalls, spitting out the bits of dirt that ended up in her mouth. This was probably the worst showing she’s ever done, but she was exhausted after last night. “Can’t I take a break already?”
“No, chouchou! You’ve got to keep going!” Her mother was leaning on the fence, throwing her hand up as Serena clawed at her mouth. Her mother was lucky that dirt in her daughter's mouth was the biggest problem that came out of this particular fall. “You were so close in getting that manoeuvre right this time!” Fletchling twittered next to her, jumping along the fence line.
None of them knew even half of it. Serena herself knew how much she can do and it was clear that today just wasn’t her day. She felt a sturdy body gently tap her leg, and she looked down at Rhyhorn as she went to pet his forehorn. “Maman, I’m tired and I’ve been doing it for hours. I just can’t make Rhyhorn turn, okay? I can’t even stay on top of him right now…” Rhyhorn grunted lowly, and she gave him a tight smile. It’s not his fault that she couldn’t do it.
Her mother whistled loudly, snapping her out of her reverie and grabbing her attention. “Hey, I know you can do it! You were so close right there, I can feel it! You just gotta be Rhyhorn and everything will come naturally. Trust me, I’ve been there before.”
Serena bit back a sigh. Be Rhyhorn. It’s a piece of advice that she couldn’t help but hear every day, all the time, and yet it never done anything for her.
How can she be a Rhyhorn? Hardened plates, hard horn, heavy power. It’s the opposite of everything that she was.
She looked down at her jumpsuit, whose pastel pink shade has darkened under all of the dirt it has collected over time. “But I’m not…” she whispered, feeling the bitterness rise up against her will.
She shook her head, before going back up on Rhyhorn again with a serious look.
“That’s it! Just start on a small walk, then lean yourself slightly to the side while nudging him over! You can do it!”
Tapping her foot on his side twice, she gripped the stirrups and wished to herself once again.
That her mother was right.
“Go for broke!”
That one way, this will mean something to her.
Afternoons were her escape.
It’s a little childish, but it’s her time and she didn’t want anything bothering her. Sometimes she would lock herself in her room or barricade the kitchen to get some alone time, where the only thing she had were her hands and her thoughts.
In the afternoon, she pursued everything other then what her mother wanted for her.
Serena pushed away bulky cookbooks and crochet projects as she shook out some spare coloured papers from the stack, smoothing them out as she looked out through her window. It was getting late today, and she really was a bit tired, so today she was going to treat herself to some origami.
Something simple. Letting her mind wander and see whatever shapes appear in thoughts through paper.
She brought out her portable device and put on the music player, drowning out any sounds outside the room.
Her mother had always said that she had a gift with Rhyhorn—that someone starting as young as she had was a sign that she was meant for it. Serena couldn’t deny it; Rhyhorn listened to her most of the time, eating from her hand easily and even allowing her to clean him up despite his aversion to water. For the most part, Rhyhorn loved her and she loved it too, the big kindhearted Pokémon that it was.
The problem started to act up when training came up. The problem started when her mother came to her with dreams of watching the Rhyhorn racetrack once more, with her daughter holding the reins this time, and when Serena was old enough to realise that it was serious from the start.
She couldn’t really find it in her heart to hate or blame Rhyhorn for it; she knew that he meant no harm by his worried snuffles and tentative licks to her face. Rhyhorn didn’t mean to hurt her, or not listen, or throw her off— not in the way that harm is usually premeditated. It’s just… by the time she’s on the saddle, Serena starts to feel wrong inside, uncomfortable and unready and unsteady, and maybe Rhyhorn sensed it or something. Blame himself for it.
To be fair, sometimes Serena didn’t feel like putting in all of her effort in the first place. Sometimes she would let the reins slip loose as her mind wandered, or sit stiffly in the saddle. Sometimes she didn’t push Rhyhorn at all.
But today she was trying.
Her whole life she was trying, as much as she could whenever she can, and yet no matter what, her mind just wouldn’t accept that this was all there was to life. To her life.
Serena hissed as the paper cut her finger, stinging as she waved her hand in the air. Luckily there was no blood, but the pain was forefront in her mind as she looked at her creation.
She messed up the rose petals. Again.
Her mother didn’t really approve of her ‘hobbies’, as she called it. Every time she came back with books or new foods or finished projects, her mother would just shake her head and direct her to the field once more, or return her attention to the magazines or TV, pointedly reminding her of her real goal. That having fun was fine, but she was never dedicated enough to truly make it work.
That Rhyhorn racing was the only thing meant for her.
Sometimes they argued whenever she pushed for more time to discover new fields and avenues she could take, sometimes they spent days being silent to each other. She knew it was easier to just let it go, just go with the flow, but she couldn’t. There had to be something out there, and Serena could feel her heart yearn towards a nameless, faceless calling that will bring her everything.
Happiness. Belonging. Satisfaction.
Serena didn’t want to face those arguments and that reaction from her mother again and so hid her hunt for her true heart away—in her closet and under her bed and in drawers and gardens, bursting with ideas half-realised and somewhat fulfilling to her. And maybe that meant that they were drifting further apart from each other, misunderstandings and failures simmering between them—but Serena was only protecting everyone from disappointment.
It wasn’t like she could commit to any activity in the first place.
(Crumpled up papers, staring up at the ceiling as the music played in the background.)
Serena wasn’t going to correct her mother when she had nothing else to hold on to, because as far as she knows, the elder was always right when it comes to winning a race.
Just not in matters of the heart.
Whenever her mother travelled to other regions for a chance at winning some gold, Serena was there, following along.
It was an arrangement that lasted only a few years, and it was something that Serena was grateful for. She didn’t like going somewhere else, being thrust upon a new land with different people and a timer attached to her. Her mother would sign her up for various summer camps, and while she enjoyed all of the little activities that they had given to all of the children, the children themselves weren’t that memorable.
She wasn’t teased or anything. People were nice, the food was okay, and everything was fine. Serena lived a good life, all things considered, but it wasn’t great.
She didn’t believe like everyone else did. She just wasn’t her mother, destined to chase down first place atop a Rhyhorn under the warm sun. That wasn’t who she was.
And yet, years later, she still found herself on the saddle once more, holding on for her life.
“I… can’t… stop him… maman!” she cried, gripping the reins as Rhyhorn kept trying to buck her off. What was the problem this time? she wondered.
All her mother said was, “Close your mouth, chouchou! You’re going to bite off your tongue like that!”
Serena snapped her mouth shut, but her mind was still screaming as she felt her body getting jostled all around. She tried to lean back as much as she could and tug on the reins to halt the rampaging Rhyhorn, but he just started to throw himself around even harder. Mouth shut, seat deep in saddle, tug once. What was she doing wrong this time? Why wouldn’t Rhyhorn listen to her?
She felt Rhyhorn dig his front feet into the ground a second before the force hit, launching her off the saddle and causing her to skid across the ground chin-first.
Her mother winced in front of her, Fletchling flying away.
Serena felt a hot flush over her face as she put her fists underneath her scratched up body, yelling out towards the heavens, “I don’t want to do this anymore!”
Her mother left her alone that evening.
Serena huffed as she stuck the last bandage on her nose, having already applied healing salve on the grazes all over her hands and face. Her mood had darkened greatly from the incident, having her leave the training area to stomp angrily back into the house. She didn’t want to see anyone right now. She didn’t even want anyone to see her.
Lately she has been doing worse in Rhyhorn racing. She knew that her mother was wondering why, and in a way, Serena did too. She was doing everything her mother told her, even if it didn’t align with her own heart. Wasn’t that enough? Sacrificing the rest of her life to something that didn’t click.
On her bed were puzzles and books and gardening gloves. In her closet were a range of different clothing, some self-made and some bought, all fashionable. There were plushies and sewing needles and a box of sequins, all within reach.
Serena stared at the mirror, where her hair was still tied away from her face with a pink ribbon. She had changed into her sleepwear, having already taken off the racing jumpsuit to fix up the peeling heart-patch she had attached on it from last year. Her face was cleaned up now, and apart from the bandages, there was no sign of her failure today.
“What am I doing?” she whispered to herself.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to end.
There was one incident, however, where Serena did not hate travelling. A strange, ephemeral encounter.
She hadn’t really thought about it as much as she used to. But every once in a while her eyes would catch on a small straw hat at the back of the closet, smaller than what would fit on her head now, and that flash of recognition would wash over her.
A time where she was happy. Where she overcame her fear and boredom and discovered a new world with Pokémon, alongside a new friend.
(Thanks to him, she didn’t lose hope that she would find something that would make her happy, as happy as he was when he announced his goal in life. He believed with all of his heart and so did she, and even now, she could never feel truly hopeless.
Because he told her to never give up.)
Her stomach growled and she put a hand over it, slumping in pain. Of course she couldn’t stay in her room forever, no matter how mad she was. And she still hasn’t reassured Rhyhorn yet, which called for a special batch of Poképuffs made especially for him.
She hesitantly opened her bedroom door, listening for any signs of her mother roaming around the floor. After ascertaining that she was not around, Serena walked out of her room and down the stairs. Maybe she’ll get something simple for herself now, bring it up to her room and stew over her feelings while browsing through PokéVision, before getting started on the Poképuff.
As she went down the stairs, trying to maintain an aloof aura so that her mother knew to leave her alone, she heard sounds coming from the living room. Was her mother watching something? There wasn’t much on the channels at this time of day, apart from the news, and it wasn’t close to Rhyhorn racing season yet.
It didn’t matter though, does it? She came down for a reason. Serena continued her path to the fridge, bringing out some milk and frozen yoghourt onto the kitchen island before the words on the screen registered to her. She looked at the program her mother was watching and gasped.
The news called him reckless. Insane. Suicidal.
Serena paused nearby the fridge, eyes fixated on the mess of pixels moving across the side of a tall building. Some sort of Pokemon was growling, roaring at the edge, louder than the choppy sound of what she assumed was a helicopter, and her throat was dry.
It couldn’t be.
“What kind of movie is that?”
It has to be.
Her mother eyed her as she took another extended sip of her tea, waiting for a few seconds before putting the cup down and replying. “It’s not a movie, it’s real life. And it’s happening in Lumiose right now. Wonder how all of this started…”
Serena started to drift closer to the TV after putting the ingredients back and closing the fridge door, her quest for food forgotten as she looked at the scene. It was Prism Tower, it seemed, which definitely placed the situation in Lumiose City. The news anchor of this channel was speaking, talking about a rampaging Garchomp and the boy who scaled up the tower in an effort to communicate with it.
She couldn’t imagine any of this being real. Even in the wildest movies her heart has never beat so fast. She watched, transfixed, as much of a bystander as everyone else as she sat down on the couch furthest from her mother and listened to the story unfolding in real time.
The footage was far from clear, screen shaking every few seconds as the camera person held it out of the helicopter to catch the action, but the commentary gave enough information for her to follow. Apparently, an hour ago a Garchomp had burst out of the Pokémon Laboratory and started to attack everything in sight, indiscriminately blasting out Hyper Beams across the street as it ran around. After some time it had climbed up Prism Tower, isolating itself from everyone as it screeched out at everyone and everything. A young Trainer had decided to follow its path upwards and was currently trying to calm it down, two other Pokémon alongside them.
It sounded terrifying, looked even worse than she could’ve expected. And yet, her heart couldn’t help but wish the Garchomp listened and calmed down, that the Trainer was successful, that there was a happy ending to this problem in front of her. That at least one thing went right today of all days.
“Do you think that Garchomp belongs to the Trainer up there?” Serena looked over to her mother, who gestured at the screen. “They seemed pretty determined to talk with it. I wouldn’t approach something that dangerous if it wasn’t mine, after all.”
Serena turned her attention back to the screen, staring at the Trainer. They had a cap, it was clear, and short hair. What were the chances that all of the Pokémon atop the tower were his? Especially since there seemed to be no other person beside them? The blue Pokémon had thrown out some white froth that stuck to the Garchomp’s feet, stopping it from tipping over the ledge, and the yellow one ran over to strike something on the Garchomp’s neck as the Trainer exposed its neck by holding its body with their own.
Serena gasped, instinctively leaning forward.
The Garchomp didn’t attack any further, and it seemed like there was no damage done to it either. The news anchor talked about some sort of device that was now absent from its neck and its possible properties, and Serena let out a sigh of relief as she leaned back into the couch, strings of tension suddenly cut.
But. There was something wrong.
“Hey, Serena, do you think that—“
There was a tiny cry, almost unheard of by the microphone pointed towards the tower, and a yellow dot suddenly fell down.
Serena’s eyes narrowed to pinpricks as she stared, mouth slightly open and breath stilled, as the Trainer jumped off as well.
No.
It lasted seconds onscreen, but it felt like an eternity, an inescapable loop, like deja vu. An age, bounded by a Trainer and a Pokémon as they tumbled through the air from a great height.
Who will save the saviour?
A red-golden streak snatched them out of the sky, slowly lowering them down to the ground. The camera view switched to the team down on the ground by the base of the landmark, where the Trainer was returned with the Pokémon on hand, their rescuer jumping off as soon as they were released.
Serena’s gaze was fixed on the Trainer, who was clearly holding a Pikachu, a Pokémon from Kanto. He—as the news confirmed— nervously rubbed his neck as he was crowded by reporters and cameras and microphones shoved into his face, the Pokémon on his shoulder crackling with electricity as it growled.
Black hair, tanned skin, brown eyes. That Trainer looked familiar. Sounded familiar too.
It couldn’t be.
An older man walked into view and gently pushed the boy aside, talking to the reporters on his behalf as Officer Jenny escorted him away from the crowd. A Trainer from Kanto, they said.
(“Never give up until it’s over! There’s nothing you can do that’s a waste of time, after all.”)
It has to be.
Serena swallowed thickly as she tore her eyes away from the current proceedings, looking around the room she was in. Four cozy walls, her mother putting down her favourite teacup as she sighed in relief, night setting over Vaniville Town.
It’s always going to be the same here, day after day.
But he… if he could be out there, chasing his dream and helping Pokémon and people just as he had done when they were kids, then maybe…
“Maman,” she said, locking eyes with her as she made an inquisitive sound and made eye contact, “I think there’s something I have to do.”
Her mother was surprisingly accepting of what Serena set out to do, letting her make the preparations as soon as last night and even forgoing the usual practice for some extra sleep.
Even if Serena didn’t necessarily take it.
“You’ve managed to wake yourself up suspiciously early today,” her mother said, after knocking on the door and opening it when she responded. Fletchling landed on the table, cocking her head at the arrangement of clothes spread out on its surface.
Serena turned around, having already changed put of her sleepwear and into the new sets of clothing she was going to be wearing on her journey. “I can’t miss out on the train, maman,” she simply said, before grabbing a derby hat and a felt hat.
The teen tried them out individually in front of the mirror, switching them out at different intervals before sighing. Her mother raised an eyebrow as reflected on the mirror's surface and said, “That’s why I told you that too much choice is a bad thing, chouchou. Why are you making it harder for yourself like this?”
“Then what would you choose?” Serena asked, turning to her. Her mother hummed thoughtfully and pointed to the derby hat, and the teen threw it away and placed the felt hat on her head, causing the older lady to groan.
Fletchling twittered as Serena adjusted her new hat, before checking her reflection in the mirror. “What was the point of asking me, then?” her mother asked, and the soon-to-be new Trainer bit back a grin.
“Because whatever you don’t choose is the cuter one, of course!”
Her mother rolled her eyes, “You’re going to worry me when you’re gone, you know. Remember to call from time to time.”
Serena pulled up her bag onto her shoulders and packed away the rest of the clothes, filing them back in their respective places. “Don’t worry, maman. It’s been too long anyways, I needed to explore the region at some point.”
“And I will be the last to tell you to hold yourself back.” Her mother stood to the side and waited, rubbing her daughter’s head as she passed by and laughing at her pout. “Remember to enjoy your time out, chouchou, and to not worry your head over big decisions alone. Make some friends. Meet some Pokémon. Take the advantage whenever you can.”
The girl nodded, looking conflicted for a second before reaching out with her hands. “One last hug?”
Her mother looked surprised before giving in, resting her head on top of hers as they leaned towards each other. “One last hug. Until next time.”
“Au revoir, maman!” Serena called as she stood outside, past the stone fencing that marked the front boundaries of their home.
“Au revoir, Serena!” her mother called back, waving to her while Fletchling chirped and Rhyhorn grunted their farewells next to her. “Remember to have some fun on your journey, and don’t forget to practice your Rhyhorn Training!”
Serena nodded and waved back as she started to walk away, one step after another as she looked forward, wind blowing through her hair.
For better or worse, she’s finally free.
For better or worse, she has a whole road in front of her now, a starting point already in mind.
It was a three hour trip by train from Kiloude to Lumiose, give or take a few stops.
Considering how she had already waited until the next morning to go (no way was she travelling at night alone!), she decided to take the railway system as her mode of transport. It’s faster, her legs won’t hurt and it has great service. What more could she want?
Three hours. Then her journey can begin.
She toyed with the crumpled invitation she had held on to for years at this point, just in case she needed it. A call to start a Pokémon journey with one of the three Kalos starters, a Pokédex and a dream of a world beyond what one has ever known. A ticket to something greater, and she hasn’t really seen it as that until he came up on her TV screen, so small and grainy and full of life. Full of wanting and strength that inspired her. Got her to where she is right now. Giving her some purpose, even if for a little while.
Her fingers brushed over the straw hat, the only piece she has of that experience, ephemeral and glass-like and just as fragile. A boy and a girl, hours before separation, meeting each other for the first time.
Two teens, years later, about to meet once more.
She shook her head, looking outside past her window, to the rolling pastures and vivid blue sky. There are flutters of Flabébe passing by, their multicoloured patches of flowers drifting on the wind, and she could see glittering lakes with a Gyarados arcing above it. Kalos was beautiful when it wanted to be, and this journey was going to reveal to her just how beautiful it can be.
She’s finally free from her mother’s shadow, after all this time.
She has to take this chance with both hands.
The train passed through the countryside with a rumbly speed, clicks sounding as it glided on the railways. Serena brought out her portable device, putting on PokéVision, mindlessly scrolling through new videos and watching some of them. Idols, baby Pokémon, dramatic competitions. So many ways to live.
Maybe she could try them out some day.
“Hey, check it out!”
Everyone started to press their faces towards the windows, and Serena turned away from her device to check out the commotion.
Then her breath caught.
A flock of blue Pokémon flying by, white cloud-like wings covering the sky as they bobbled and twirled on the wind. Interspersed with them were another type of Pokémon, green bodies diving in between them as they swerved sharp angles and sped up and down at different timings.
A beautiful sky dance in the air.
“Wow, I never thought we’d be seeing a joint migration of Altaria and Flygon today,” someone said. Another voice piped up next to them and the first speaker laughed. “Yes, it’s certainly a rare sight these days. As Altaria like keeping their wings clean, they don’t usually mix with the part Ground-Type Pokémon Flygon, but occasionally they will mix groups and protect each other in flight while also showing off a little. It’s like a race of sorts, but all in good fun—and travelling in big numbers is always a smart idea in the colder seasons. A good showing of teamwork in nature, don’t you think?”
Serena heard what the people were saying around her— more facts, some talking about their own experience with Dragon Type Pokémon, about mystifying moments with Pokémon in general— and her mind latched onto those names as she continued to watch. Flygon. Altaria. Two amazing kinds of Pokémon that she was seeing today, unplanned and out of the blue. It was amazing. It was spectacular. It was beautiful.
Pokémon were beautiful.
This world was so beautiful when it wanted to be. And if she gave it a chance and listened, just like he told her to.
(She’s doing it now, though. She’s listening to their melodies, their twinkling cries, and she thought to herself that even if she find him and did what she set out to do, she’s going to keep on the road.
Keep on the road, and see what this world has to offer for a girl like herself.)
Lumiose City: the city of light, fashion and innovation.
Serena covered her eyes as she wandered out of the train station and onto the streets, craning her neck as she looked around at the tall buildings and flashing bulletin displays. There were cafes dotted all around with people coming in and out, boutiques with all sorts of clothing presented at the storefront, and every other kind of shop in between. It was busy. It was loud.
It was the kind of place that Serena can thrive in, if given the chance and opportunity.
But first, she had a mission.
Serena pulled out the portable device and scoured the map until she found it: to get to the Sycamore Pokémon Lab, she had to walk across the outskirts of Lumiose until she had reached the most southern part of the city. That was fine with her; she was already in the south-eastern area as it was, and this had just offered her some great opportunities to window shop.
The main reason why she had to visit the lab was to collect her Starter Pokémon, having already notified the Professor of her coming through videophone. He was remarkably quick to answer, though the reception on his side was choppy and couldn’t show any visuals, but it was the same man from the night before who had reunited with his Garchomp and made lighthearted jokes to distract the news from the boy who had saved it.
A nice man, and her chance at getting freedom.
As she walked by where the lab was, she noticed the trail of destruction that weaved out of the area—roads and sidewalks ripped apart, some buildings and shops closed, the lab itself having lost a large chunk of its outer and inner walls. Serena gingerly made her way around the rubble as she passed the gate and knocked on the door, waiting for an answer.
A somber reminder of heartache and loss, and yet, the driving force of her journey. It made her wonder about how something bad can lead to something good, and, bitterly remembering what she had left, how something good can sour into something bad.
“Bonjour, mon ami! How are you, new Trainer? Come in, come in, and watch out for the mess.”
She shook her head and gave the Professor a large smile, picking up her skirt and walking in.
Inside was a lot cleaner, though there was still a collapsed wall and knocked down bookshelves. “Wow,” she whispered underneath her breath, taking in the splendid blue walls and golden decor, red carpet beneath her.
The Professor laughed at that, giving her a signal to wait as he paused himself, facing her. “I’m glad that you find this humble place beautiful despite the tragedy that struck last night. Have you had a good trip?” She nodded, eyes wide as she took in his grin. “Marvelous! It’s important that the start of a journey is as good as all of the other parts. If a Trainer is happy, I tell my colleagues, then I am happy also. So! Time for the age-old question.”
He clapped his hands, and three Pokémon made their way forward from a nearby corridor, all of them stopping before her. “What is the Starter of your choice?” he asked, tilting his head towards her.
Serena felt her heart swell with emotion and joy; she never imagined that the start of her journey would be so cute! There was a blue Pokémon with big yellow eyes and a bubble cloak, who puffed it up at her attention. There was a brown Pokémon with a green shell and leaf-like spikes, who hopped from foot to foot while flexing its spines periodically. And a yellow Pokémon, who peered at her with its red eyes as it swished its tail in anticipation, before covering up its nose at a sneeze and lighting up the red tuffs in its ears.
The Professor tapped her shoulder and she turned to him, watching as he handed her a compact red device. “That is your Pokédex,” he explained, placing a finger on the clear middle part and activating it, red sections moving away from each other as the clear part expanded. “You can use it to help identify Pokémon and their features. You can even use it on the little ones here, just point in their direction and voila!”
Serena nodded as she followed his advice pointing it on the blue one first (Froakie, the Bubble Frog Pokémon and a Water Type), then the green one (Chespin, the Spiny Nut Pokémon and a Grass Type) and finally the yellow one (Fennekin, the Fox Pokémon and a Fire Type). It was incredible having such information so readily available, and her conviction steadily grew with each scan. This was the right choice. This was her path, or at least a small part of it.
She pocketed the device and went down on her knees, laughing as the Pokémon crowded around her and made happy noises. It was so nice to feel a warm touch again, especially from Pokémon, and her mind started to wander as she thought about the blue Pokémon on the news from yesterday—did he have a Froakie too?
The girl reached out a hand to pat the Starters, watching each of them with the Professor's question now in mind. Her heart had already known which one she would take based on the invitation alone, but as she watched them tumble around and play, the answer became even more clear to her.
Her choice. The first of many to come.
“I’ve made my decision.” Serena declared, looking at the Pokémon. Fennekin yipped in hope at the attention and the new Trainer smiled at it, reaching out to it with both of her hands outstretched. “I’m going to go with you!”
Sunset was painting the sky in fierce shades of red and orange and yet Serena was still in the middle of the forest, no civilization anywhere within sight.
So maybe it wasn’t a good idea to have shopped for that long before setting out. Serena couldn’t help buying some on-sale items for herself and for Fennekin, and there weren't that many items they took as it was, but evidently maybe such a choice wasn’t the best one she had made so far. Even if such a sale was once in a lifetime.
“Fenne…” her Starter whimpered, being carried by her Trainer as they traversed the darkening terrain. Serena tried to give it a smile as she kept walking further, knowing that to stop now meant that she would have to camp out, and she… hadn’t planned out that eventuality.
If her mother was here, she would be so disappointed. Great news was her mother wasn’t here.
Bad news was that they were still in the forest with daylight growing dimmer by the minute.
“We just need to find a Pokécenter,” Serena whispered, holding her Pokémon even closer to herself as they heard a sound. A group of Fletchlings fluttered off, rustling the trees, and there were scurrying sounds in the underbrush. Just one Pokémon Center. A house. Even a shelter at this point will do.
Fennekin perked up, ears straightening up as she turned her head to the side. Serena followed her gaze, gazing deep into the forest. “What is it, Fennekin?”
There was movement at the corner of her eyes and Serena looked around, feeling some sort of pressure all around her. The air felt brisk somehow, and she felt watched, seen, observed.
[You’re not supposed to see this.]
A glowing light appeared, bobbing in between the trees, before a light twinkling sound echoed, too close to her ears. Then in front of her, far beyond her spot, stood a dark spindly figure.
Blade-like points to its legs, branching horns that curved and reached out towards the branches on either side of the path, holding shimmering lights within its antlers.
Glowing eyes, focused on her.
Serena breathed, gently raising a fist to her chest where her heart beat. Somehow, she felt a connection, curiosity, choices and pathways and decisions spreading out before her. She could almost see it. She could almost taste it, multicoloured and thread-thin and sparkling and warm.
[The stag has chosen.]
Then she blinked and it was gone.
“Did you see that, Fennekin?”
“Kin!”
Memories on the wind, nostalgia drifting by.
Serena shook her head, taking one hand off her Starter to pinch her own cheek. The encounter felt so quick that it almost felt unreal, and she mourned the lost opportunity to have the Pokédex identify the Pokémon (it had to be one, right?). No matter what, though, time was draining fast and they had to find a place to stop.
Her eyes looked around as she started her walk again, wrapping both arms around Fennekin once more and calling out periodically in case of anyone nearby. A few Pokémon popped out from the nearby trees and bushes but no one answered, and Serena started to lose hope until she saw a vague shadow of a person with a dress nearby a cluster of trees off the path. “Hello? Madame, can you hear me?”
The body stirred, and hope rekindled in her heart as she continued to call out to the lady. “Hello there, can you help me—“
The person shrieked as Serena came near, jumping way too high for a regular human and staying up in the air, and the blood drained out of the new Trainer’s face as she beheld long transparent wings and yellow-black markings and red eyes glinting in the little light they had left, eyes narrowed in irritation and anger.
A Pokémon. And an upset one. One with a clear target in mind.
It blasted out an attack towards her, glowing spheres materialising around it before shooting towards her, and Serena fell downwards as she tried to dodge it, a small scream of terror slipping out of her throat. Closing her eyes and shielding her face, she heard a sharp bark and felt warm fur slip past her body.
She waited.
Nothing hit.
Serena peeled open her eyes a little, watching as Fennekin stood in front of her, ears glowing as she barked towards the Pokémon and spat out rushing heat in a flurry of embers. The fireball hit the last of the glowing spheres and had hurdled towards its target, causing the Pokémon to recoil and buzz away from the pair with a flick of its wings.
And just like that it was gone, the forest returning to its natural ambience once more.
“Fennekin,” Serena exhaled, reaching towards her Pokémon, “You saved me.”
The Fire Starter turned towards her and yipped happily at that, trotting back before pausing and raising one leg up. Some dust had accumulated on her paw and she whined as she lowered her ears, firmly standing still in the same spot.
Serena shook her head, standing up and dusting herself off before grabbing her Pokémon. “You don’t like dirt, don’t you? Well, I believe a chivalrous Fennekin like you deserve some downtime after your good work. We’ll try out some of those products we bought earlier in the morning, how’s that for a reward?”
Fennekin howled in joy, shaking her tail as she snuggled back into her now regular place. Serena laughed as they continued on their way, previous fright already slipping their mind as she stuck to the path this time.
They had only moved a few steps forward when a voice cried out, “Is someone here?”, bright lights casting an outline far in front of the pair. Serena shaded her eyes with one hand as she turned around, relief washing over her like a cool wave on a hot day as a person (an actual person) and their Pokémon walked towards them. “Are you in need of any assistance?”
“Yes, please,” Serena called out, looking down at her Fennekin who confirmed the reality in front of them. She grinned and ran back, waving down the person and hurriedly explaining their situation.
“I’m Nurse Joy,” their helper told them, walking them back to the nearest Pokémon Centre. “This is Wigglytuff, my assistant, and we look after a small Centre in the middle of these forests. It would be good for you to keep in mind that in long stretches such as these, between two cities, there is usually a Pokémon Centre that you can rest in. Just make sure that you heed the signs. There should be one right here.” She pointed at the pole in front of them, a stylised Pokéball design above a thin path offshooting from the main road. “Next time it’s getting late, look for this sign, and you will find a rest stop nearby.”
Serena flushed as Fennekin grumbled under her breath, making sure to take out her portable device to take a picture of the sign before returning it back into her pocket. She then took a few quick steps to catch up to the duo in front, watching her step with the broken twigs littering the less-trodden road. “Thank you for the advice, ma’am. I’m not used to travelling like this, and the forest looks completely different in the dark to me. There were even a few strange Pokémon that I have never seen before, and it’s just my first night as a new Trainer.”
“First night as a Trainer? Then I hope that the rest of your journey will be a lot less hectic than tonight was, my dear.” They arrived at a rustic hut, and Nurse Joy opened it and gestured inside. “After you, new Trainer.”
The new Trainer laughed as Wigglytuff nudged her in, and alongside her own Pokémon they walked into their night accommodations.
Tomorrow was a new day, a new adventure and hopefully a better start.
Tomorrow, she can do what she set out to do.
(And after that?
…She’ll figure it out.)
[The stag has chosen.
What will you choose?
>
]
There were many different ways to wake up, from Dodrio calls to sunlight warning the room to a gentle kiss.
Today, a warm snout tickled her face, causing Serena to wake up laughing. “I’m up, I’m up!” she cried as she grabbed Fennekin and held the Pokémon above her head. “You are going to be my personal alarm, aren’t you, cutie?”
“Fen-fen!” Her Starter barked, before licking her thumbs.
Serena jerked awake at the movement, sitting up on her bed while kicking away the blankets and placing the Pokémon down on the bed. “It’s a new day, Fennekin. Are you ready?” She stood up, pulling the pink ribbon out of her hair as she started to get dressed, Fennekin curling up on the bed in her place as the Trainer prepared herself for travel.
Destination: Santalune City.
And a certain boy from Kanto with a cap and a blinding smile.
The girl placed her hat on her head, adjusting it on her head before checking herself in the mirror, fully dressed in her day clothes. Everything looked good to her and so she turned her attention to her Pokémon, who trotted over to check herself in the wardrobe-length mirror as well. “You sure like to look your best, don’t you, Fennekin?”
The Fire Type yipped as she jumped up and down, threading herself through her Trainer’s legs. Serena giggled as she raised her legs, grabbing her bag where it rested against the base of the bed and pulling out a new brush. “Okay, so let’s get you looking just as good as moi, alright?”
Fennekin purred as she set herself down on the bed, allowing her back and tail to be brushed through. Serena marvelled as she pulled the Pokémon onto her lap and moved the brush through the shiny and smooth fur, warm and luscious in its own right. Tiny pinpricks tapped on her knees and a rippling sensation went through the body she was brushing, and Serena bit back a smile.
A new friend. She never knew it was possible, and yet…
“I’m happy to have chosen you, Fennekin,” she told her Pokémon, genuine warmth and smile flooding her with the truth in those words. “No matter what, I won’t regret starting my journey because I have you.”
And for once, Serena felt like she was heading towards something right in her life.
Running across fields and watching Kirlia dancing with Budew in the sun, using moves that glittered all around them in a storm of sparkles.
Eating food together, wiping each other's noses afterwards and stretching together underneath the blue sky.
Watching videos in a Pokémon Centre, laughing and gasping together in tandem as they waited for the sweets they made to rise in the oven.
One day late and Santalune City was within sight.
“We’ve made it!” she called out, pumping her hand in the air as she ran forward a few steps, shoes clicking on the brick pathway. For the last stretch of the journey she had returned Fennekin into her Pokéball, but it still warmed her side as she skipped around. He’s here!
It was very early when she had set out from the last Pokémon Centre stop in her journey, and yet it was late morning when Serena arrived at the city. There were some points in the trek where she found herself stopping and just taking in the sights, playing around with her Pokémon, pinpointing favourite sites onto the map on her pocket computer. Somehow all of those mornings where she had to wake up to practice for Rhyhorn racing still stuck in her mind, and she had to burn out some of her early morning energy on her own now.
Which was fine with her. The world is a big and beautiful place, and she’s glad that she’s on this journey with every single step.
Which leads her to the most important one. Serena felt her bag, making sure that the straw hat was in her bag before setting off with the direction of the Pokémon Gym, thanks to the directions of one kind man.
(“Oh, are you talking about Ash?” The Professor paused with his back to her, humming indecisively. He was almost leaving when she blurted out the question, and she put a fist to her chest as she willed herself to stay in place. “Please don’t tell me you’re a fan of him or something, I’m not old enough for this type of scandal.”
She shook her head emphatically. “Non, I’m just here to give something back to him. Something I’ve been meaning to give back for a long time.”
He tapped the wall to the side of him as he turned around, giving her a searching look. After a long pause he let up the eye contact, nodding towards her. “I trust you, Serena.”
Professor Sycamore sighed to himself as he rubbed his temples, and the girl could see the start of bags underneath his eyes. “The news has been playing havoc on me as you can tell. Hopefully no other world-changing events happen in the near future, since my poor heart cannot take this kind of attention.” He gave a small smile towards her as he put his hands down and said, “Ash is aiming to complete the Gym Challenge in Kalos, so last we have spoken he was heading towards the Bug-Type Gym in Santalune City. When you meet him, please send my regards.”
“Thank you, Professor,” Serena whispered, feeling suddenly heavy with the weight of responsibility. She felt his tiredness and wanted to help, and maybe some of that thought was visible on her face as he waved his hand at her dismissively with a wink.
“Don’t let my tired face let you down, mon ami, there is much joy to find in life regardless of what happens. And life will keep moving on, and we make what we can with it.” He threw his hands up then, looking dramatic as Serena let out a sudden laugh. He smirked then and gestured towards her, saying, “And to you, well, I hope you find what you are looking for in the journey that you undertake.”
She flourished her skirt in a curtesy to him then, as a response to his joy as well as in her own impromptu flair for dramatics, boldly responding with, “And to you as well!”
He laughed himself, giving her a genuine smile as she went up with a blush and a smile. “You are truly something, Serena. Thank you for your visit.”)
Ash was challenging the Gyms of Kalos for a spot in the Kalos League, a conference between strong Trainers throughout the land. Serena couldn’t imagine that he had grown up to take such a path, but then, she didn’t really remember that there were other paths to take.
She hoped that he had somehow gotten a little closer to that impossible dream of his in the time between their visit.
Her navigational app blinked, and Serena paused, turning to face the building in front of her. It was big and daunting, with greenery surrounding it. A green roof with the Pokémon League symbol atop it, with two pillars holding it up at the forefront. A formidable place for a formidable battle. She went up the few steps that the building had, her heart thudding in her ears.
After all this time, he was finally here. He was right behind these doors, burning up with the same amount of passion as before. Loving Pokémon as fierce as before. Chasing his dreams as fiercely as before.
(This moment felt so unreal, and yet, it was what she was waiting for, right?)
She fiddled with her bag’s drawstrings, steadying her breath.
With one push, Serena opened the door and got embraced by the light within.