Hello, this is my first time publishing. I'm a writer by trade, but never got around to doing something like this. If there's any interest from the community in hearing more, I will be glad to continue the story. Otherwise, I guess it's a one-shot. Enjoy!

Once you're all ready for the next step, you just give me a call.

Serena thought about the words as she stared at Gloire City's castle in the distance. The setting sun framed the parapets in a soft, warm glow that kept her transfixed. She was already tempted to make a panicked call to Palermo, saying "I've changed my mind! I want to go now!" But she'd meant what she had told her would-be mentor. Serena needed to make this journey. She needed to become someone who could give others strength. If she called now, Serena would just be seeking someone else's guidance.

"Aren't you going to eat?"

Clemont's voice brought her back to the room. They had stopped for the night at an inn near Couriway Town after the Masterclass failure. Hard as she tried to see the good in her achievements, Serena was still disappointed in having lost to Aria. She brushed off the feeling and turned toward Clemont. Bonnie and Dedenne were chowing down on what looked to be some sort of soup. The Pokémon were all invested in their own meals on the other side of the room, with Pancham and Chespin inevitably arguing over who-knows-what. Ash and Pikachu were noticeably absent, and when she turned further, she could see them training outside the eastern window.

Sylveon brushed against her leg, and Serena gasped in surprise. She smiled and leaned down to stroke the Pokémon's fur affectionately. Her friend was more attuned to her heart than anyone she'd ever met, and it gave her comfort to have that bond right now.

"Serena?" Bonnie piqued up, stopping her ravenous eating long enough ask the question.

"I'm not very hungry. Excuse me."

The Pokémon Performer made her way to the window where she could watch Ash and Pikachu. Clemont followed behind her.

"Those two never rest, do they?" she attempted breezily.

"No, they don't." The young inventor cleaned his glasses off and stared out the window, admiring Ash in a way they both understood. "He's a force of nature, isn't he?"

"What do you mean?" she asked as Pikachu landed a thunderbolt on a tree near the glass.

"I started journeying with Ash because I felt something in him when we first met. He's a great Trainer, sure, but the devotion he gives to everything and everyone is truly remarkable. It's really inspiring to have someone like that around who not only is passionate about his dream but ours as well."

"He lends his strength to us," she replied automatically. It was something she had been considering in her own mind. Of course she fancied him romantically, but how had it all started? For her, the powerful Trainer in front of her was still the intrepid boy in the woods who gave her his hand and his spirit. She watched his training session with awe and found herself blushing just the same as when he congratulated her after the Masterclass. Whenever she doubted herself in the performances, all she had to do was find her friends in the audience. She hoped that the looks in their eyes held the same reverence and pride that she had watching the imaginary battle now.

Ash and Pikachu celebrated their triumph over the trees in the yard then came in through the side door to meet them. "I'm starving," the boy from Kanto announced, placing his hands over his stomach. Pikachu mirrored his Trainer giving a loud sigh. "Is everyone already done with dinner?" Ash asked.

"Well, Bonnie and I ate, but Serena said she was–"

"Starving!" Serena blurted out, cutting off Clemont mid-thought.

"Awesome, just you and me, then," Ash laughed, grabbing a bowl of soup for himself. By the time Serena sat down with her own food, Clemont had begun tinkering with his backpack, and Bonnie was intently brushing all the Pokémon. It wasn't exactly private, but these were the only times Serena had a chance to talk with Ash alone.

"Did the trees put up a good fight?" she joked, already in better spirits.

"Yeah," he grinned back at her. "Pikachu taught them a lesson, though. Right, buddy?" When there was no response, they glanced over to see Pikachu asleep on Bonnie's lap as she stroked his tail.

"It must have been a tough battle!"

They both broke into laughter and met each other's gaze. Serena blushed slightly and let her hand linger on the table in front of her. Ash's gloves lay to the side of them, and his rarely exposed hand sat just out of her reach. She couldn't bring herself to move closer, but all the same, she hoped that he would.

"You know, Serena, you were amazing in that Performance." The boisterous, passionate Trainer from Pallet Town spoke in a surprisingly calm hush.

"You really think so?"

"I do. I think if you got another chance, you'd beat Aria in a landslide!"

She smiled, and a small tear came to her eye. Romantic feelings aside, Clemont was right. Ash had a way of giving his companions a boost of pride and courage with just a few words. It was a talent that was going to take him far in life. It already had.

"Do you think I made the right decision? Should I have gone with Palermo?" Her voice faltered a bit. They hadn't discussed this yet, and while she felt she'd made the decision for the right reasons, part of her feared her friends weren't happy with the choice.

"Only you know that. But I've gotta be honest… I'm glad you're still with us." He looked as if he might say something else, but after a few moments, he changed his mind.

"Ash, I've been wanting to talk to you about something else. I mean… what I'm trying to say is… I've been wanting to tell you –"

Boom! The wall furthest from them came crashing down. Dust and debris filled the air, and they coughed repeatedly, trying to clear their airways of the particulates. As the dust began to settle, three forms took shape in the opening in the wall.

"Prepare for trouble. We don't have a reservation."

"And make it double, because we'll soon be on vacation."

Jessie and James stood on a large wrecking ball, Meowth just behind them.

"To protect the world from devastation."

"To unite all people within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of this bed and breakfast."

"To extend our reach to a free night's stay!"

"Jessie!"

"And James."

"Team Rocket blasts off with room service speed."

"Surrender now or prepare for a complimentary fight!"

"Meowth that's – OW!"

The rock glanced off Meowth, and he drew his claws.

"Which one of you twerps threw that?!"

"I don't have time for you maniacs! I was in the middle of something!" Serena stepped forward, Braixen and Sylveon at her side.

"The twerp-ette is feeling brave today," Jessie chirped amusingly.

"Let's see how she feels after a meeting with Inkay!" James retorted, lifting a Pokéball from his belt.

"Sylveon, use fairy wind! Braixen, fire blast!" Before Inkay could be summoned, Team Rocket found themselves lifted off the ground in a pink whirlwind.

"What!?" James demanded. "That's not fair! We just got here!"

"She must have been about to tell the twerp that she –" Jessie was cut off by Braixen's fire blast striking them, sending the devious trio through the air.

"Ahhh! Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off in record time!"

Serena stood impressively in front the torn wall, her dress covered in debris. Her friends stood in awe behind her, not fully processing the events that had unfolded in front of them so quickly. A few other guests and the inn's owner had gathered and were silent as well.

"Whoa." Bonnie muttered.

Clemont tried to elaborate. "Serena, that was…"

"That was so amazing!" Ash blurted excitedly. Serena turned back and gave them a smirk. "What can I say," she grinned. "Dinner time is important to me."

The others stood stunned, and even Chespin's mouth was on the floor. Full of confidence, Serena marched over to Ash and leaned in dangerously close to his face. "Eat up, Pokémon Master. We've got a long day ahead of us." She turned and headed for the stairs that led to their rooms.

"Serena, what were you going to tell me? You were in the middle of saying something before Team Rocket showed up…" Ash's words tumbled out of his mouth quickly, and his eyes stayed fixed on her.

"I forgot. Maybe if I think of it, I'll tell you tomorrow." She gave them one final smirk and a wink, then headed off to bed.

The action resumed almost immediately. Sirens wailed in the distance. The owner had likely called Officer Jenny during the attack, the latter of whom would likely be surprised to find the situation already taken care of. Clemont was rushing Bonnie off to bed so he could try to repair the damage with his "wall fixing machine" that he swore he'd made for a situation "exactly like this."

Ash stayed uncharacteristically stoic, spooning soup into his mouth and smiling ever so slightly.