Chapter 2: A Matchmaker

"M-me!! With Ash!?" Serena spluttered, realising that her plan had backfired neatly onto her own shoulders. She and Ash were going to dance together. She was such a bright shade of red that she was surprised her face wasn't steaming.

Nervously, she turned to Ash."Ash, will you?" she asked wheedlingly, trying to keep her voice at a normal pitch, instead of twenty octaves higher than the normal.

Ash grinned.

"Sure thing, Serena!" he replied, his eyes shining cheerfully, like the best type of amber mixed with a little brown.

Bonnie looked positively delighted. Serena sent her a death stare. Her grin only widened.

"Now, then. Clemont, Ash, stay right here

Serena and I have dresses to pick!" Korrina declared, her brilliant grey eyes shining.

About half an hour later, both girls were squealing in delight at the vast array of dresses in all shades of red, white, gold and green in front of them, with plenty of accessories to match.

Serena noticed that even Korrina dressed and acted like a classic tomboy, she enjoyed doing girlish things like shopping and dressing up. Or so it seemed.

About two and a half hours later, the girls finally decided on their dresses.

Korrina's was an elegant ivory gown which left her shoulders bare and had sleeves that reached down to her elbow. The thick ivory velvet had threads of pale gold and silver running through it, which brought out the gold in her hair and the shimmer in her eyes, with a wide sash of red cinching in her waist, and a full skirt.

Serena had chosen a dress of dark red chiffon and heavy silk that was, similar to her previous gown, strapless, leaving both her shoulders and arms exposed to the elements. The dress's bodice cinched in at her waist in a sharp V, and flared out into a long, full skirt. Not as full as Korrina's, but reasonably full all the same. It had very little embellishment except for the smattering of gold across the skirt, more at the top, and decreasing towards the bottom. The bodice had gold at the bottom and reducing towards the top, creating a gold belt effect.

After they had rented their dresses, they had stopped outside the castle for a little food and drink.

"You have it bad for Ash, don't you,?" Korrina asked nonchalantly as the duo sipped their hot chocolate. Serena choked and spat hers onto the snow.

"KORRINA!" she screeched, her cheeks red.

"You do, don't you?" she asked matter of factly.

"Y-yes," she said at last.

"Then why haven't you told him yet? Whenever I look at the both of you, all I can think of is how are you not dating yet?!" Korrina exploded, looking at Serena with piercing grey eyes.

"I guess that I'm scared that I'll ruin our friendship, or that he won't understand, which is even worse," she admitted.

"Would it kill you to try?" Korrina asked.

"No."

In the evening, both girls finally showed themselves to the boys, who were dressed formally in red and green, Clemont in the latter.

Clemont, walking over to Korrina, and, blushing furiously, offered her his arm. Korrina, her cheeks flushed, accepted, her loose blonde hair swaying as she danced.

A voice sounded in Serena's ear. "Wanna dance?" Ash asked, offering his hand with a smile. Serena took it, and even through the glove, fire raced up her skin.

They began to dance. Serena could practically feel Miettes, Shaunas and a fire others gleeful looks boring into her. Ash moved surprisingly gracefully, his skills improved since his last shot.

They fell into the easy rhythm of the dance.

"So, Serena, are you excited for the League?" Ash asked cheerfully.

"Yeah! I've heard so much about it! I can't wait to watch you battle!" she replied.

Suddenly the music stopped. The musicians were taking a break. The duo slipped out, both agreeing they they needed a break from dancing. They escaped onto a balcony, and Serena looked up.

She wanted to tell him, but maybe there was a better way.

She did every she had been wanting to do for years. And if the mistletoe above felt happy about the couple kissing under it, it kept its silence.

Authors Note: And done!! Merry Christmas again, and I hope that you liked this fluffy little fic. I'm exhausted, and I'll post the shout out for this chapter with FACD 26 coming out on Monday, so, until then, au revoir!Review and keep smiling,Leaflame.