Nobody was talking as the trio walked towards Vermillion City. Normally Clemont would have talked about a new invention, or Bonnie would have talked about meeting Squishy again, or Serena would have talked about their upcoming break upon the S.S. Anne. But they were all silent in the light piddle paddle of the rain. Pikachu wasn't on Serena's slumped shoulders. He was walking on his two hind legs.

"I'm the worst Pokémon trainer in the world," Serena thought. Her eyes were still red. "I thought Pokémon journeys were supposed to be fun. It's been nothing but loss, me yelling at my Pokémon, loss, me hurting my Pokémon, and more loss. I'm worse than Team Rocket. They would never hit their own Pokémon."

She brought up Trapinch's motionless Pokéball. She had apologized with all of her might, baked treats for him, and did whatever she could to say she was sorry. But Trapinch didn't reciprocate. She knew he wouldn't. The little bond they had was severed when she raised her fist. She should have given him to Ritchie. Why did the Pokémon decide to follow her?

The rest of her Pokémon were meek too. She didn't blame them. They too heard the sound of her palm, but it nevertheless hurt Serena that Pikachu chose to walk rather than sit on her shoulder. She was so dumb. After that big speech in Mt. Moon and Cerulean City about how she would never yell at Sylveon or her other Pokémon, she went ahead and slapped Trapinch. She would never regain their trust again. Sure, they might battle with her. But would they run, laugh, and trust in her again? No. She might as well give her badges away.

"Should we tell Officer Jenny about Sabrina?" Bonnie asked, and Serena's heart jumped—she thought the little girl was talking to her. But then it sank again when she realized she was talking to Clemont.

"I tried," Clemont said. "But she wouldn't listen. She said we have no proof. We have to beat Sabrina in a Pokémon battle so we can force her to give us Ash."

"Oh! Then how about you battle her?" Bonnie said.

Clemont flicked his gaze towards Serena. "What do you think I've been doing while she…she was in the Pokémon Center? But I can't do it. She used her full strength against me. I couldn't handle all six of her Pokémon especially with that Mega Alakazam."

"So she wasn't even trying her hardest," Serena thought. She remembered yesterday. She was curled up on her bed. Both sides of her pillow were wet. Occasionally, while still in her pajamas, she'd creep to the Pokémon Center healing machines, her nose and hands leaving marks on the glass. Her plate of food was untouched, and she was paying the consequences now. Her stomach growled and complained, but none of the three pointed it out. But then she stopped in her tracks.

"I think I should go back to Kalos," Serena said, her first words in what felt like forever. "We know who Tuck is now. Just get Misty and Brock and May and the rest of Ash's friends. You can beat her together. I'm useless now."

"Serena…" Clemont said, his voice trailing off.

"I'm the most useless Pokémon trainer ever!" Serena shouted, her hat falling over her eyes, but she didn't bother adjusting it. "What kind of Pokémon trainer hits their Pokémon? Ash? Tuck? Sabrina? Jessie? James? J? No! None of them do! But I did! He trusted me! He was my first baby Pokémon! But I let him down."

She pulled out all of her Pokéballs, placing them on a rock. "I don't deserve them. They deserve a better trainer than me."

And with that she ran away, her boots splashing the numerous puddles in the dirt. With a "Pikapi!" Pikachu bounded after her. Clemont and Bonnie ran too, shouting something, but Serena plugged her ears with two fingers.

Meanwhile, on a nearby grassy knoll, Team Rocket put down their binoculars.

"You know, ever since we returned to Kanto, haven't things been more, uh, serious than before?" said James.

"Yup," said Meowth. "For some reason there's a lot more drama and crying ever since that Ash brat left. I wonder why."

"Ew, as if I care about the lives of those twerps," Jessie said. "But now's the chance to steal her Pokémon! Oh, wait, there's someone there."

"Wooobuuffet!"

"Shh!" Team Rocket said, slamming the bewildered psychic Pokémon onto the grass.

"Oh? Some Pokémon?" the blue-haired man said, bending over to inspect the four Pokéballs on the rock. His hair was short and wavy, he had sunglasses propped on his forehead, and he wore a weird pink and brown vest. "I wonder why the trainer abandoned them. Surely you aren't too weak, hmm?"

He released the Pokéballs, both the Pokémon and trainer looking surprised. "Interesting. A Braixen? Isn't that a starting Pokémon in Kalos? I've never seen one before. Those other two must be Kalos Pokémon too. But that last one…oh ho, I've seen a Trapinch before."

He plucked up the confused Trapinch. "Hmph. I have no idea why your old trainer would release you. For being weak? Ha. Your trainer is an idiot for not knowing you evolve into a Flygon."

"Pinch?" Trapinch said questioningly. It looked like he didn't know what a Flygon was either.

"My name's Damian," he said. "You look strong, or at least will be. Hey, I have to rebuild my team again. You want to come with me? And the rest of you. Your trainer left you. Yeah yeah, you think he—or is it a she?—will come back. But he won't. I know from experience."

Braixen, Sylveon, and Pancham shook their heads, saying a quick "No!" in their language. Trapinch squirmed his legs but Damian didn't let him down.

"Yeah yeah whatever. You three don't look like you'll evolve into strong Pokémon anyways," Damian said. "That's why she left you, right? Because you're weak. Hmm, it's nice to have a Pokémon that's been trained already. You have a hard skin. Shame you aren't shiny though. Oh well, you'll be great with my black Charizard."

Trapinch squeaked more, but Damian just returned him to his Pokéball. He waved his hands at Serena's other Pokémon. "Go. Shoo. Your trainer doesn't want you, and neither do I. You can stay here and die or whatever. Not like I care."

They glared at him, but otherwise stayed on the rock. Trapinch's Pokéball shook, but Damian put a cold, hard grasp on it.

"Ugh, I can't believe that brat took her Pokémon before we could!" James said.

"Wait, did he mention he had a shiny Charizard?" Meowth said. "Never mind the Braixen and Sylveon and Pancham. Think about how happy Giovanni would be if we showed him that!"

Jessie had an evil smirk. "Wait. I have a plan."

In the meantime, Serena collapsed to the ground. Not only did her stomach growl, but her throat was parched and her feet had blisters. Before she went to Kanto, Serena couldn't remember the last time she was in such a state. Crying, hiccupping, an absolute mess. Maybe when she was training with her mother on how to ride Rhyhorn.

"Mama…" Serena said. She rummaged through her purse, her unsteady hands pulling out the Pokégear. While she had her on her contacts, Serena entered the ten numbers she knew by heart. She heard the ring. The phone rang once, and then twice, and then a third time. When she was about to hang it up, there was a click.

"Serena? Is that you?" Grace said. The mother only heard deep breathing. "Serena? Are you okay?"

"No," Serena managed to choke out. "I can't do it, Mama. I want to go home."

Grace set aside the dishes she was washing, adjusting the phone on her shoulders. Unlike Kanto Route 6's weather, Vaniville Town was bright and sunny. Grace's Rhyhorn dozed off in the bright lawn outside, and her Fletching chirped around Grace, trying to hear Serena's voice. "Serena, what happened?"

"I hit my Pokémon."

"Why?" Grace said.

"Because I'm an idiot. I'm the worst Pokémon trainer in the world."

"No. I don't believe my daughter will hit her Pokémon without a good reason. Did Pancham bite you? Or did Braixen accidentally burn you?"

"No! They're good Pokémon. I-It's my fault. I…I was in a gym battle."

"A gym battle?" Grace said. "I didn't know you wanted to become a Pokémon battler."

"No, I don't!" Serena wailed. "I just want to go home. I-I left my Pokémon. They deserve another trainer. Any trainer would treat their Pokémon better than I do."

Grace wanted nothing more to hug her daughter, to cuddle her and reassure her by saying everything will be okay. "Serena, do you know what 'Go for broke' means?"

"G-good luck?"

"No. It means to risk everything for your goal. Serena, can you say you've tried your hardest to reach your goal?"

Serena wanted to say yes. Oh, how she yearned to say she tried her best. There were those countless days where she yelled hoarsely at her Pokémon to Iron Tail, Feint Attack, and Karate Chop at the rocks and sticks and logs. Each and every midnight her eyes jerked open, but her body screamed no, for her to lie in the comfortable and warm bed. But she pulled herself up, her muscles and arms and legs protesting. There were the hours where she stared at the Pokédex and her navigator, memorizing Kanto's Pokémon and the types and tactics of the gym leaders.

"No," she said.

Grace could feel Serena's tired, exhausted breath. In any other scenario Grace would have told Serena that yes, indeed, she tried her hardest. But this was different. "Then try your best. Serena, you don't give up on anything you want to do. And yes, I know you didn't want to race Rhyhorns."

Both woman laughed. That felt weird for Serena. It mustn't have been that long ago, but she couldn't remember the last time she laughed.

"I don't know why you want to Pokémon battle," Grace said. "But that must be something you want to do. I don't want to see you giving up. I know you didn't want to hit your Pokémon. Don't give up until you regain their trust."

Grace couldn't see, but Serena nodded. She pulled herself to her feet, wiping even more tears from her face.

"Have you been crying a lot recently?" Grace said. "You've always been a crybaby."

"M-Mama!" Serena said. While embarrassed, it was the first time Grace didn't hear sadness in Serena's voice. Grace smiled. Mothering was tough.

"I'm proud of you, Serena," she said. She actually raised a fist which slammed into a cupboard. While she winced, she continued "Go for broke!"

"Thank you, Mama," the daughter said. She hung up the Pokégear when she saw Bonnie and Clemont running towards her.

"Serena! Serena!" Bonnie said, Dedenne also squeaking from her pouch. "Are you okay?"

Bonnie was surprised at the confident hand that patted her head. "I'm fine, Bonnie. I'm sorry. I'm a bad person. I know I've said this before, but I'll try my best to become the best Pokémon trainer I can be."

Clemont's arms were crossed. "This is the second time this happened, Serena. How can your Pokémon know that it won't happen again?"

"They don't," Serena said. "But I know—I definitely know—I won't do it again. I can only hope they can trust me again. Come on! Let's go back!"

"Pika pi!" Pikachu said happily, and he jumped onto Serena's shoulder.

"Hey, wait up," Clemont said, panting and wheezing as Serena dashed ahead of him, a new energy and vigor in her steps. It was still drizzling, but the sun was also out, giving the puddles a neat glare.

"Oi! Yoush younglings!" a man with purple hair said. He waved a cane at the trio. "Were you saying that was yer Pokémon over there, by that rock?"

"Yes? What happened?" Serena said.

"Twas a bloke who wants to take yer Pokémon," said a woman with red hair. It was wrapped in a hairnet. "Ain't listening to reason. Yeh probably have to battle him to get yeh Pokémon back."

"Aye aye!" said a small child with a beanie. "He really wants teh Trapinch. Says yeh didn't appreciate him enough—both the Trapinch and the blue-haired guy."

"Oh no!" Bonnie said. "Serena, you have to show him that you care about him!"

But Serena was already racing towards the rock, her feet pounding the ground, blood thumping in her ears. "Braixen! Pancham! Sylveon!"

She saw the Pokémon sitting on the rock, all three of them looking at her with uncertain eyes. Serena froze. She didn't know what to say. She had been pumped, full of energy just seconds before, but now all of that enthusiasm was dying off.

"Trapinch?" she said, realizing his absence. "Where did Trapinch go?"

"Oh, are you the trainer that left your weak Pokémon?" Damian said. Serena didn't see him behind some grass. He bent over and widened an eye, ogling her. "You don't look like a Pokémon battler. My advice? Leave these Pokémon behind. They don't look strong."

"Chu! Chu!" Pikachu said, hopping off Serena's shoulder, a massive charge of electricity sizzling from his cheeks. Serena had never seen Pikachu look that furious before.

"What are you talking about?" Serena said. She grew suspicious. "Where's Trapinch? Did you take him?"

"You abandoned him, didn't you?" Damian said, inspecting his nails. "If a trainer releases his Pokémon, then other people are free to take it."

"Give him back!" Bonnie said, catching up to them. "Serena didn't release her Pokémon! She wants him back."

"Serena?" Damian said. "Oh, the old Kalos Queen? No wonder why your Pokémon look pathetic. You shouldn't mind me taking your ugly Trapinch then."

"He's not ugly," Serena said, clenching her fists. "And my Pokémon aren't pathetic. Now please. Give him back."

"Hmm," Damian said, but then he grinned. "Okay. If you bend at my feet and lick my shoes, I'll give you Trapinch back."

"What!?" Clemont said. He took out a Pokéball. "This is ridiculous. Serena, let me battle him for Trapinch. Wait, what are you doing?"

Serena already knelt at Damian's legs, doing long and slow licks of his sneakers. It tasted like cardboard, and the dirt from the rain certainly didn't help. Bonnie looked like she wanted to cry, and Clemont shoved his Pokéball back into his jumpsuit with more force than necessary. Damian, however, was annoyed.

"By Arceus, you're boring. You didn't even think about it," Damian said. With a mighty kick he knocked Serena's head aside, sending her face-first into some mud. Clemont whipped out his Pokéball, saying "Luxray!" as the Pokémon materialized.

"Seriously, go back to Pokémon Performances," Damian said. "You left your Pokémon on this rock because you lost a battle, right? I know that look. Happened to me too. It's the reason why I tossed my first Pokémon. I regretted it, y'know. Funny that my Charmander became one of Ash Ketchum's ace Pokémon."

Serena wiped the mud off with the sleeve of her shirt. "You released your starter Pokémon? And…Ash has him?" The concept was alien to her. She could never imagine letting go of Braixen. Then again, she never imagined she would hit her Pokémon either.

"Yup. What a fool I was! I let go of such a strong Pokémon."

"Do you not care about him?" Clemont said, glaring at him. His Luxray bared his teeth.

"What? Of course I do. Good thing I found a stronger Charmander. Hey kid. Looks like you want to fight, eh? Well, let's handle this the old-fashioned way." Damian enlarged a Pokéball on his belt. "Whoever loses has to listen to the winner. Sound good?"

"Luxray, Discharge!" Clemont said.

"Earthquake!" Damian said as he released his Pokéball.

As soon as the monster landed, cracks split throughout the earth. Luxray couldn't use Discharge in time—the Earthquake sent him flying off his feet. Serena scrambled and pulled Bonnie to cover, shielding her Pokémon from the debris with her other hand.

At first Serena thought it was a Mega Charizard X, but he didn't breathe any blue flame. Only when she saw that his scales shimmer in the sun that she knew it was a shiny.

"Gaze upon my Charizard!" Damian said laughing. "It brings all the girls to the yard. Once I get a Mega Stone, he'll be invincible. See? He knocked out your pathetic Luxray in one shot."

Clemont ran over to Luxray, murmuring and stroking his fur. Returning him back, he said "It's not your fault that was a Critical Hit, Luxray."

He placed a hand on another Pokéball, but Serena stopped him. "Let me fight," she said. "It's my Pokémon. Pikachu, can I count on you?"

"Chu chu," Pikachu agreed.

"A Pikachu?" Damian said, laughing. "That rat isn't even fully evolved. You're pathetic. The only Pikachu that's half-decent is Ash's Pikachu. Probably by some freak accident. Abandon him already and get a stronger Pokémon. Like an Electrivire, for example."

The corners of Serena's mouth twitched. "Pikachu, Electro Ball!"

"Oh, please, haven't you learned already?" Damian said. "Earthquake!"

"Pikachu, you know what to do!"

Pikachu jumped off a fallen tree, avoiding the Earthquake that rumbled the earth. With a loud "Pika!" he fired the electric ball from his tail. This was from their training. Serena realized if they would ever face Gary's Golem again, they would need a way to dodge the Magnitude Charizard, meanwhile, easily dodged the attack by flapping his wings. The gust knocked the Electro Ball off course.

"How about that?" Damian said. "My Charizard's so strong, he doesn't even need to lift a finger to flick away your Pikachu's pathetic attack."

"Thunderbolt!"

"Hey!" Damian said. "Calm down! Slow down a little here!"

The attack hit Charizard squarely right on the head, throwing him into a spasm. Then, Pikachu jumped onto his long neck, looking mischievous as the black Charizard shook his head, trying to recover from the attack.

"One more time!" Serena said.

"Pi ka…chuu!" he cried out, giving Charizard yet another shock. And with that, Charizard collapsed, unconscious.

"Useless Pokémon," Damian said. He didn't bother returning Charizard to his Pokéball. "Fine. Trapinch, it's your turn!"

"Tra?" Trapinch said, looking around, somewhat confused.

"Trapinch!" Serena cried out. She sprinted up to the Pokémon and wrapped her hands around it, but then felt a pain on her arm and shoulder.

"I deserve this, do I?" Serena said. Trapinch was biting her. She stroked his head with her other hand. It wasn't soft like the fur of her other Pokémon, but she didn't mind. "It's okay, Trapinch. I failed you by hitting you. You can find a different trainer if you want. But not this guy. He's a bad trainer."

"Tra?" he mumbled.

Then, a sudden black smoke covered the road nearly instantly. Serena couldn't see anything in front of her, but she had a feeling who made the smoke.

"Who's there?" Damian said, coughing.

"If you say 'What just happened?'" a catlike Pokémon said.

"Prepare for trouble!" said the all-too-familiar female voice.

"And make it double!" said the also recognizable male voice.

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all peoples within our nation!"

"To stand by the evils of love and truth!"

"The lovely, charmy, villains!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"The pair from Team Rocket soars through the galaxy!"

"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth! That's right!"

"Woooobbuffet!"

"Team Rocket!" Clemont said. The evil trio was in another one of their giant mechs. It looked like a giant Meowth, and one of its arms was wrapped around the Charizard and the other around Pikachu.

"This robot is one of our best designs," Meowth said. "It was just a fluke you blew it up so many times before!"

"Thunderbolt, Pikachu!" Serena said. She looked around but Trapinch wasn't nearby. He was next to his new trainer, Damian.

"Pi ka…chuu!" Pikachu cried, but the electricity did nothing.

"Wow, we've traveled with you over two regions and you still haven't learned?" Jessie said. "Obviously Pikachu's attacks won't work."

"Chespin, come on out!" Clemont said, tossing out a Pokéball. "Use Vine Whip on the arms!"

"Oh no you don't," James said. "Weezing, use Sludge!"

"Arbok, Acid!" Jessie said. The duo tossed out their Pokéballs and their Pokémon spewed their poison attacks, the Sludge and Acid landing a direct hit on Chespin. Meanwhile, Chespin's Vine Whip had no effect. It didn't even dent the metal limbs.

"Chespin!" Clemont cried out, catching the poisoned Pokémon. He gurgled a purple bubble. "Serena, can you do anything against Team Rocket?"

"I can't! I don't have any more Pokémon that I can—" She was interrupted by a tug on her skirt.

"Braix!"

"Pan!"

"Syl."

"Braixen? Pancham? Sylveon?" Serena said. Her eyes threatened to tear up again. "Really? Do you trust me again? After what I've done?"

"Enough of this soap opera drama!" Jessie said. "Acid again!"

"Same for you Weezing! Use Sludge!"

"Braixen, use Flamethrower! Sylveon, Protect! And Pancham, Dark Pulse!" Serena said. The three Pokémon launched their respective attacks. The Sludge and Acid collided with the Protect, the latter not budging at all. On the other hand, the Fire Blast and Dark Pulse sailed into the poison Pokémon and knocked them into the mech.

"Argh! We can't beat them!" Jessie said, returning Arbok back to a Pokéball.

"This is bad! This is bad!" James said, also doing the same to Weezing.

"If we can't beat them, it's time to retreat from them!" Meowth said, spinning a driver's wheel. After making a vroom vroom sound, the mech spun around and began veering away.

"No so fast," Damian said. "Bulldoze, Trapinch."

Trapinch stomped the ground, initiating a shockwave that split the earth. The energy snaked towards the mech, causing the robot's wheels to fall into the cracks.

"Meowth! Get us out of here!" Jessie said.

"I can't! I can't!" Meowth said. "We're stuck!"

"Trapinch?" Serena said. Her knees were weak. "When did you learn that attack?"

"Serena, now's not the time." Clemont said. "Let's attack it together!"

"Right! Sylveon, use Drain Kiss! Pancham, Karate Chop, and Braixen, Fire Blast!"

"Luxray, use Wild Charge!" Clemont said. "And Chespin, Pin Missile!"

Team Rocket's eyes grew larger and larger when the massive storm of attacks raced towards them. The moves combined and mixed into a beautiful medley of colors when it collided with the giant Meowth, creating a brilliant firework-like explosion that sent them flying into the sky.

"Do you think it's easier to get a Charizardite or a shiny Charizard?" Jessie said, her hair all frazzled.

"Now that I think about it, I wonder what a shiny Mega Charizard X looks like," James said.

"That's my idea for my next unstoppable Mecha!" Meowth said, punching a paw into another paw. "Shiny Mega Delta Meowth EX!"

"And we're blasting off again!" they all cried as they disappeared into a white star.

"Wooobbufffet!"

"Pikachu!" Serena cried out, catching the falling mouse Pokémon with her outstretched arms. He snuggled up against her chest. "Do you trust me again?"

"Pi~ka chu," he said happily. Braixen, Sylveon, and Pancham crowded around her, either looking anxious or worried or relived or happy, but they all looked content to be around their trainer again.

"Good job, Charizard," Damian said, returning the fainted Pokémon back to his Pokéball.

"Tra! Pinch!" Trapinch said, running up to Damian. He leaped towards him, a smile on his crooked jaw, and all of his legs outstretched.

And then he was kicked in the face.

"Get away from me, you weak Pokémon," Damian said. "Ugh, don't touch me until you're strong. You barely slowed down that robot with your Bulldoze. Charizard could've torch it in one shot with Overheat."

He raised a foot again. Trapinch cowered, but he never received the attack.

"Don't touch him!" Serena cried out, choking on air every time she was kicked in the stomach. She was curled around the Trapinch, the Pokémon's wide eyes looking at his Kalos trainer.

"Braix! Xen!" Braixen said angrily, a flame lit on the tip of her wand. Pancham tightened his fists, and Sylveon's eyes narrowed. That in itself was odd. Serena never saw Sylveon mad before.

Damian just laughed. "What are you doing, defending your trainer like this? She abandoned you, and from what I can gather, smacked this Trapinch silly. I'm only doing the same thing. Besides, she only likes you because you're pretty Pokémon that are good at Pokémon Contests. So what's wrong with me only liking strong Pokémon that are good at Pokémon battles?"

That lowered the aggression in their eyes. Braixen lowered her wand, unsure of what to do.

"That doesn't mean you can hit your Pokémon!" Bonnie said. Her cheeks were puffed up as she yelled at Damian. "How would you feel if someone hit you?"

He scoffed. "Pokémon battle each other all the time. This is nothing compared to what they go through."

That put Bonnie at a loss for words, but Clemont adjusted his glasses. "That's different, and that's why Serena is a better Pokémon trainer than you are. She considers her Pokémon her friends. People have different tastes in friends, but absolutely everyone would regret hitting their friends."

"Yeah yeah, whatever, save me that speech," Damian said. "I have my own way of thinking, if you have yours. If you're a good person then accept that."

That made all of the humans silent. The humans. Not a small, stubborn, electric mouse.

"Pi ka…chuu!" Pikachu cried, sending a massive Thunderbolt onto Damian. The boy yelped as his belt disintegrated and his pants dropped, showing his underwear. Trapinch's Pokéball rolled off and towards Serena.

"Hey, I'll teach you a lesson," Damian said, his face red. One hand covered his crotch area and the other was raised high, but yet again Serena dove. This time she greeted the punch with her head.

"Ouch! That hurt you git!" Damian said, waving his mangled fist around. There was blood on it, but it was unclear whether it was from Serena or Damian.

"Do you know whose Pikachu this is?" Serena said. "He's Ash's. Ash Ketchum's Pikachu. And he's not strong due to some freak accident. He's strong because his trainer loved him. Now get out of my sight."

Damian took one scared look at Serena and then fled, either scared by the expression on her face or by her words. It didn't matter. She didn't care.

"Run away like Team Rocket, you idiot!" Bonnie said, cupping her mouth. "You're so scared that you punch ladies and run like a little girl!"

"Trapinch?" Serena said. She cuddled the quivering Pokémon in her arms. "Are you okay?"

"Tra?" he said.

"I won't hurt you ever again," she said. She looked around to her other Pokémon who crowded around her. "And you, and you, and you, and especially you, Pikachu. I'm sorry. You're my friends. And as a friend, I'm asking for forgiveness. I know this is saying a lot. Here. I know this won't make it up to you, but how about you hurt me?"

Braixen, Sylveon, Pancham, and Trapinch looked at each other. Pikachu offered a "Pikapi?" to which they all nodded. And they all bit Serena.

She jerked at the initial sting, but it was gone when she opened her eyes to find the Pokémon with their tongues on her wounds. Everyone, from Sylveon's dainty tiny tongue to Trapinch's big slobbering tongue, licked the pain away.

"Yay! They all made up!" Bonnie said. "Come on Dedenne, let's join the pile!"

"Dedenne!" the small orange rodent said as they jumped onto the group.

"Hey, me too!" Clemont said as he did a belly flop, sending everyone tumbling. Chespin and Luxray joined the mound, and they all laughed. It felt like a large weight was lifted all of Serena's shoulders. Right on cue, the sun also pushed away the last of the clouds, giving a warm glow to the beautiful landscape.

"Thank you. Everyone," Serena said, looking at the Pokémon and people around her. "Thank you for being my friends. I have the greatest friends in the world."