My mind was spinning as I rounded the last corner of the path toward the finish line. I knew that the race was long over, but I needed to at least return my rhyhorn. As soon as I crossed the finish line I dismounted in one fluid motion and turned my back on the people still milling around. The familiar sound of cameras flashing and reporters calling out to me followed my determined retreat.

As the reporters rushed to catch up with me I considered making a run for it. However, as I thought back to Satoshi and his encouraging words and the realization that I had come to in my near-death experience, a determination I didn't know I had in me began to fill me up. Taking a deep breath, I stopped and turned to face the four reporters and their cameramen. They obviously hadn't expected me to stop because they nearly created a pile-up of cameras and people as they all frantically tried to stop.

I waited for them to get their feet back under them before clearing my throat delicately. The reporters all looked over at me with sparkling eyes, as if they could tell that this was going to be a huge scoop. Trying to hold the image of both Ash and Satoshi's bright smiles in my mind to give me courage, I looked at each of the reporters in turn.

"I'm sure you all are curious about why I threw the race," I stated calmly. Two of the reporters immediately pulled out a notepad and began scribbling like crazy, while the other two looked at the film cameras that their crew had brought as if to make sure they were rolling.

"The truth is that I've never enjoyed rhyhorn racing from the very beginning," I stated firmly, amazed at how liberating it felt to actually tell the truth for once. "I came to the realization in the Eterna forest that even if I were to win the Sinnoh Circuit, I would never really appreciate it and that wouldn't be fair to the other rhyhorn racers who dream about nothing but coming in first place."

The reporters began shouting out questions but I shook my head and they all fell silent again. Once I was sure they were listening I took a steadying breath and looked directly into their cameras.

"As of today, I am officially retiring as a professional rhyhorn racer. That's all I wanted to say."

With that I turned, feeling a mixture of giddiness and horror at what I had just done. The reporters were clamoring for more details but I decided now was as good a time as any to make my escape. I burst into a run, racing away from the reporters and the rhyhorn racing track and towards (I hoped) a happier future.

*     *     *     *    *     *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *     *

"Serena, I don't understand! How could you quit! You are the most talented rhyhorn racer I've ever trained!"

I could feel tears prickling the back of my eyes as I looked at my mom through the screen of the video caller in the hotel I was staying at. Swallowing with difficulty I slowly bowed my head as deeply as I could to my mom on the screen. I stayed there for a few seconds before raising my head and squaring my shoulders.

"I am really sorry that I waited so long to tell you how I really feel, Mom. I was scared that you would be disappointed in me. And I was also scared that if I left rhyhorn racing that I wouldn't have anything else I was good at," I explained a little haltingly. Speaking to my mom like this was extremely difficult for me. I knew that she felt betrayed, but I also knew that if I ever expected to be happy with my life that this was something I needed to do.

"Serena, if you didn't want to do the Sinnoh Circuit you could have just stayed home!" Mom said with a note of panic in her voice. I shook my head firmly, not willing to let her have her way this time.

"Mom, you're not listening. It's not just the Sinnoh Circuit. I'm done with rhyhorn racing completely. I am going to retire and start my pokemon journey," I announced boldly, even as it felt like butterfrees were spinning around in my stomach in a nervous jumble.

"A pokemon journey?" my mom repeated, sounding more shocked than I had ever heard her. "All you do is train your pokemon to be strong enough to beat up somebody else's pokemon. There is no real reward in that! In rhyhorn racing you are training yourself both mentally and physically to become the best you that you can be! Why would you give that up?"

"Because rhyhorn racing doesn't make me my best 'me'!" I yelled, much louder than I had intended. 

Several people using the other video cameras glared over at me and I bowed to them, feeling highly embarrassed. After composing myself, I took a deep breath and once again faced my mom, who looked more confused than I had ever seen her.

"And you are wrong about pokemon journeys, Mom. I'm sorry that this makes you sad, but I have made my decision. I have plenty of money from all of my winnings so you don't have to worry about me, okay? I'll call you when I get my first pokemon to introduce you."

"Wait, Sere...!"

Before she could respond I switched off the video camera, reverting the screen to its normal, blank state. A heavy sigh escaped me and I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees and dropping my face into my hands.

That could have gone better, I groaned inwardly to myself. I knew that my mom would be against this decision of course, but I had hoped that she would realize that I wasn't a child anymore and that I was capable of making my own decisions. Doubt and uncertainty crept through me as I sat hunched over in front of the blank screen and tried to forget my mom's disapproving face.

Why can't she just be happy for me? Why do I have to choose between my mom's approval and my happiness? I wondered sadly. 

Unfortunately, I could find no answer to my questions so I slowly left the hotel and headed towards the main street. It was evening now and as I made my way towards the counter of the Eterna City Bakery I wasn't even surprised to find out that the lady in front of me had bought the last slice of Old Gateau available.

Typical. I think I find Ash and it turns out to be someone else. I decide to become a pokemon trainer and my mom hates me for it. Then I want to try a piece of specialty cake and they are out.

"I'll have a Mont Blanc then, please," I said, trying to keep myself from sighing.

"That's one of my favorites, Miss! The baker here makes it with a caramel genoise cake instead of the typical meringue in the middle, then he puts the chestnut cream and chestnut puree on top. It's absolutely amazing!" the young woman behind the counter gushed happily as she moved to the display case and carefully moved the small cake onto a serving plate for me. I thanked her and paid for my treat with a small smile.

Being from Kalos I'd tried almost every form of Mont Blanc ever made, but I had to admit this sounded like a new twist. Feeling a little bit happier with how my day was ending, I turned around to find a seat. Suddenly, something solid bumped into me and I pitched forward. I desperately tried to save my treat but a strong arm wrapped around my stomach, halting my fall. This caused me to jerk my hands back, sending the delicate pastry toppling off the small plate and onto the floor.

I didn't know why it was seeing that poor, delicate pastry splattered across the bakery floor that finally tipped the balance, but as I looked at the mess of cream and chestnut puree on the ground I felt large tears begin to stream from my eyes. I really should have just stayed in bed today, I thought as I swiped desperately at my cheeks to try and stop the onslaught of tears.

"I am so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going." Whoever had caught me gently pulled me back up to a standing position but I did not turn around to look at him as I continued to try and stop my irrational tears.

"Miss, are you all right? Did I hurt you?"

A large hand rested gently on my elbow and I turned away again, holding up one hand to try and show that I didn't need any help while the other hand was still swiping at the river of saltwater flowing from my eyes. It was all I could do to keep from hiccuping as quiet sobs that I couldn't control bubbled up my throat.

A fierce gratitude gripped me as I heard soft footsteps retreating from me. I wanted to run out of the bakery and back into my soft hotel bed, but my tears were flowing so thickly that I could barely even see. After a few more moments of me trying to stop my emotional breakdown, something appeared in front of my swimming vision. Bringing my arms up to wipe at my eyes this time, I sniffled briefly and quickly looked through my temporarily clear vision.

It was a Mont Blanc. It was delicate, light brown, and absolutely perfect. Tears I couldn't stop were still leaking from my eyes but I slowly tilted my head up to look into the face of an extremely concerned man. His eyes were the color of deep caramel and his hair, which was a hazelnut brown, was cut short in the back and feathery on top, with bangs that hung just barely below his eyebrow line. He looked older than me, I guessed somewhere around 23 or 24, and even though I was sure I looked like a complete wreck, his eyes were gentle and filled with worry.

"Are you having a bad day?" he asked with a sympathetic frown.

My vision began to swim again and even though I normally avoided strangers and communication of almost any kind, I felt too alone to refuse this man's unexpected kindness. I nodded jerkily as I continued to cry and after a moment I was surprised to feel a hand gently tug on my elbow, guiding me to a booth where I sat down and buried my face in my hands.

After a few seconds, I felt a small tap on my hands and when I moved one of them ever so slightly I felt a tissue pressed against my fingers. Telling myself I was being an idiot didn't change the fact that I was incredibly grateful to this unknown stranger. After several minutes where I went through more tissues than I could keep track of, my tears had finally begun to slow and I blew my nose as delicately as I could.

Peeking up at the man, who had not moved from his seat across from me, I was surprised to see that he didn't seem disgusted or even awkward from my meltdown. He had propped one elbow on the table and was resting his cheek against his closed fist as he looked out the window. Slowly his eyes slid over to me and met mine for a moment. I blinked and he straightened, the gentle concern from before coming back into his eyes.

I had expected him to ask me what was wrong, or tell me that a bakery wasn't the place for a sobfest. But instead, he gently pushed the Mont Blanc he had bought across the table and towards me while giving me a kind smile.

"Hi. My name is Aryan."

Between bites of the heavenly dessert and blowing my nose every so often I awkwardly told Aryan why I had been crying. He listened patiently, nodding to show he was still listening and asking a question every once in a while. Once I finished I was surprised at how much better I felt and Aryan slowly leaned back against the wooden booth seat across from me.

"That was a bold decision you made to leave a promising career for something so uncertain," Aryan remarked after a short pause. Worry gripped me and I ducked my head, pushing around the last pieces of Mont Blanc on my plate.

"Do you think I made the wrong decision?" I asked anxiously, looking up at him.

I wasn't sure why he had listened to my ramblings, but I couldn't deny that his kindness felt like he had thrown me a lifeline after I had just jumped off a ship into the freezing cold ocean. For whatever reason, I desperately needed to know that he thought I did the right thing. Briefly, I wished that it was Satoshi that I had bumped into in the bakery, but I had no idea where he lived or if I would ever see him again, so I put him out of my mind for now and focused on Aryan. He flicked his head to the side, causing his bangs to jump to the side and lay further away from his eyes before he smiled at me.

"Honestly? I think if you were unhappy enough to jump ship at the first opportunity then you definitely shouldn't keep rhyhorn racing," Aryan stated with a small shoulder shrug. Relief and a feeling of validation rushed through me. A long sigh eased past my lips before I felt myself smile at him.

"Thank you," I said sincerely, causing him to laugh lightly and rub the back of his head. His gesture drew my attention to his ear which was pierced with a small black stud. I had never known a guy with his ears pierced, but I had to admit it looked cool.

"There's no need to thank me. I'm the one who bumped into you, after all," he said with a bashful smile. I shook my head and chuckled lightly.

"It's not a big deal. I'm sorry you had to see me like that," I apologized awkwardly, wishing my hair wasn't in a ponytail so I could hide behind it.

"You don't need to worry about that. My job is to help people in tough situations, and I have to say you are a much prettier crier than most of the people I've seen." Aryan grinned with a quirk of his eyebrow and I felt my cheeks heat up slightly at the unexpected and slightly strange compliment.

"Ummm, thank you... I think?" I responded hesitantly and couldn't help but smile when he laughed.

"Don't worry about it," Aryan said with a grin. A loud vibrating noise sounded and he turned, pulling out a cellphone from his pocket and glancing at the screen before a small frown turned his lips down. He stuffed the phone back in his pocket and smiled at me apologetically.

"That was work. I'm sorry again for bumping into you, but it was nice meeting you, Serena. Good luck with becoming a pokemon trainer," he said, sliding out of the booth and standing up.

I quickly stood up as well and, after a small hesitation, held my hand out to him. He took it readily and shook it once. His grip was firm and I was surprised at how rough his hand felt.

"Thank you for the Mont Blanc," I said, not sure what else to say. He grinned and tipped an imaginary hat to me before turning and walking purposefully towards the door of the bakery. 

I watched as he left the store and disappeared down the street into the night. Slowly I sat back down and looked at the last piece of Mont Blanc still on my plate. With a smile, I slipped it into my mouth and began to imagine what my life would be like as a pokemon trainer.

A/N The picture above is what Aryan looks like. If any of you have played the mobile app Mr. Love: Queen's Choice he probably looks familiar. If you haven't then no worries, he is just our roguishly handsome love rival that we will get to know more about later on ;)