*art by me and AkiCinnaBun

"One final stitch here..." Rina said, pulling the sewing needle, "And finished! I'm pleased to say that we've completed all our outfits for tomorrow's fashion expo!"

The others and I cheered, as well as our Pokémon and Leavanny.

When we arrived at Yelena's villa, it was late into the evening, and we decided to take a well-earned rest. We just finished our runway looks for Yelena's fashion exhibition tomorrow!

I stepped back and admired our outfits posed on the mannequins.

"You've truly outdone yourself, Rina," I said, "They all look amazing!"

"I couldn't have done without you guys." Rina said.

"Yes, you could've!" Elsu said, "You made the clothes we're wearing now!"

Rina smiled sheepishly as a faint blush rose to her cheeks.

"Aw, thanks, El!" Rina said, "That means... everything!"

Leavanny walked over and happily cried out as it waved its cutters around.

"Thanks for all your help, Leavanny!" Rina said.

The Nurturing Pokémon smiled as it bowed before our pink-haired friend. Then, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" Rina said.

With Rina's permission, Yelena entered the room with a silver fox-like Pokémon. I took out my Pokédex and scanned the Pokémon in front of me.

"Ninetales, the Fox Pokémon. It is said to live 1,000 years, and each of its tails is loaded with supernatural powers. Very smart and very vengeful. Grabbing one of its many tails could result in a 1,000-year curse."

That's strange. The picture shows that Ninetales has golden fur, but Yelena's is silver. Could this be a...?

"Yelena, your Ninetales," I began, "Is it shiny?"

"Good eye, Eragona," Yelena answered, "Luna here is often with me when I'm promoting a new clothing line, like tomorrow."

"That's right; you make clothes for people and Pokémon." Rina chimed in.

Yelena nodded with a grin. She then looked behind us, and her eyes sparkled.

"Oh, my! Are these the outfits you will be wearing?" she asked, walking up to the clothes.

"They sure are," Kat said, "We finished them not too long ago."

The fashion icon ran her fingers along the clothes, her smile growing with each passing minute.

"They're beautiful!" Yelena said, "And what of your Pokémon?"

"Well, we were so focused on making clothes for us, along with running into some trouble, we couldn't find the time to make anything for them." Nina said regrettably.

Yelena nodded before straightening her posture. She looked at each outfit and hummed to herself.

Are we in trouble...?

"What Pokémon will you have to accompany you on the runway?" she asked suddenly.

The question caught us off guard, startling us.

"Which Pokémon will you have with you on the runway?" Yelena parroted.

"I was gonna have my Eevee, Libby, be with me." I said, nuzzling my partner's cheek.

"My Sylveon, Angel." Kat said.

"My Snubbull." Rina said.

"I guess my Totodile." Eric said.

"My Flechinder, of course!" Elsu said.

"Then, I'll go with my Mawile." Nina said.

Yelena nodded with a patient smile.

"Come with me, and have your Pokémon ready." Yelena said, making her way to the exit.

Glancing at one another, we followed the woman and her Ninetales through the house. Yelena then led us to the backyard. There were beautifully cut hedges and a fountain in the center of the yard.

Wow! How did I not notice this from the balcony?

"Now, call out your Pokémon." Yelena said.

Without hesitation, Eric, Elsu, and Nina took out their Pokéballs and tossed them in the air. Their Pokémon soon appeared with cheer-filled cries. Yelena grinned as she admired the Pokémon before her.

"They look solid," she said, "I can tell you've raised them with much love and care."

"Thank you." Nina said.

Yelena then pulled out a tape measure and began measuring our Pokémon. When she finished, she pulled out a small notepad and began scribbling down some notes.

"Right then," she suddenly said, "I'll start working on their outfits right away."

What Yelena said caught us off guard.

"Really?" Kat asked.

"It's the least I can do," Yelena answered, "However, I doubt I'll get it all done on my own."

She then glanced at Rina and smiled softly.

"Rina, would you care to help me?" she asked.

Rina's golden eyes widened.

"I-I would be honored!" she stammered, "Yes! Let's get started straight away!"

Yelena chuckled and gestured her hand to follow her.

"Would you mind if I borrow your Pokémon for a bit?" Yelena asked.

"Not at all, right, guys?" Nina asked, looking at us.

The others and I promptly shook our heads. With a firm nod, Yelena and Luna walked back inside with Rina and our Pokémon in tow. Breathing out a heavy sigh, I pulled out my other Pokéballs and tossed them in the air.

"Come on out, everybody!" I cried.

At my command, my Pokémon appeared. The others grinned and let out their Pokémon as well.

"You guys can play out here for a while," I said, "A well-deserved break after battling... you-know-who for two days straight."

Our Pokémon understood and went off to play in Yelena's backyard. My Pokémon were soaring in the open air along with Elsu's Yanmega and Kat's Beautifly. Eric's Samurott had dived into the nearby lake and was now drifting along with Nina's Togepi and Kat's Chikorita on its back. Nina's Clefable and Floette and Kat's Goodra admired the flowers on the side of the house. As I watched our Pokémon play, I sighed as I sat down on the fountain's edge.

To think that we will be modeling Rina's designs on Yelena's stage tomorrow! I cannot wait to see Yelena's designs. From what I've heard, she's been preparing them for a month in advance.

When I looked in the fountain, I saw something glittering in the water. Squinting, I saw many gold and silver coins. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small gold coin. As I closed my eyes, I gripped the coin and made a wish.

I wish the fashion expo will go well and Rina's name will be known everywhere across Johto. No, across the world!

The thought of my wish made me smile. I opened my eyes as I flipped the coin into the fountain, the cash creating small ripples as it slashed into the clear blue water.

"What'd you wish for?" asked a voice.

I looked up and saw Kat standing over me with a smile.

"If I told you, it wouldn't come true." I chuckled as my friend sat beside me.

"I suppose you're right." Kat said with a smile.

The sound of our Pokémon playing made my smile grow.

"Eragona." Kat began.

I turned to my friend when she called my name.

"Do you... do you think we'll be able to stop Team Xenon?" Kat asked suddenly.

The question made my eyes widen.

"I don't want to believe it, but what Rina said might be true... If they're here, who's to say they're not anywhere else?" Kat asked, glancing at me, "I hate how they keep springing up at the worst times. They're always a step ahead of us, no matter what, and no matter how hard we try to one-up them, they somehow always have a fail-safe-contingency-backup plan!"

I was startled when Kat raised her voice.

"Not only that, you've been their main target. As many times as we've fought them, somehow, they always know where we are," Kat said as she stood, starting to pace in front of me, "And when they get the chance, they snag your Pokémon. I know it's because they believe they can mega evolve, but whenever we're together, they only take your Pokémon. Can they... can they actually be capable of Mega Evolution...?"

I stared into my friend's light brown eyes, full of concern and fear.

How do I respond to that? Everything that Kat said is true. No denying that.

I slumped my shoulders before standing up. I stepped up to my friend and placed my hands on her shoulders, frowning when I felt them trembling.

"Kat, it's going to be okay. Every time we've faced up against Team Xenon, we've always prevailed," I began, "Even when we were in a pinch, the others, their Pokémon, and ours have been there to help us out."

A small smile appeared on Kat's face.

"To this day, I still regret letting Team Xenon's leader, Calista, leave. She took something from Professor Cherry, and I hate how I let her go," I said sorrowfully, "I know Calista and I are going to meet again soon, and when we do, I swear I'll take back what she stole from the professor! And soon, together, we'll take down her entire organization so that she won't be able to steal or experiment on other Pokémon again!"

Kat's face broke into a confident smile.

"Yes!" she cried boldly.

"And we'll be there to lend you a hand." said a gentle voice.

Looking over Kat's shoulder, I smiled when I saw the smiling faces of my other friends.

"You don't have to fight this battle alone, you two," Eric said, "We've experienced Team Xenon before, so we know what we're up against."

"As you know, I have a personal hatred towards those freaks in blue," Elsu growled, "Ever since you told me that they tried to steal the last Ajax Guardian from Primeval Jungle, I couldn't bring myself to imagine a world where they rule it, and that's never gonna happen."

"Not on our watch; they're not!" Nina said, "We'll ensure they get the proper punishment for all the Pokémon they stole and experimented on! We'll see to it personally, won't we, girls?"

I glanced at Kat, and we nodded firmly at the redhead's question.

"We most certainly will!" Kat said.

I chuckled as I found myself smiling.

With these guys by my side, we'll take down Team Xenon in no time!

"Hey, guys!" cried a familiar voice.

Looking back at the house, we saw Rina wearing a giant smile on her face standing in the doorway.

"Come in and see how the Pokémon look!" Rina said excitedly.

After we retracted our Pokémon, we followed our pink-haired friend into the house.

"In Yelena's studio." Rina said, leading us through the house.

When we arrived at the studio, Rina knocked on the door and waited. Then, Yelena opened the door and looked down at us with a smile.

"What do you think?" she asked, stepping to the side.

My eyes widened when I saw the Pokémon.

"Aww!" Kat and I said.

"Oh, my gosh! They're so cute!" Nina squealed.

"They are ready for the fashion exhibition tomorrow!" Eric said.

"The stars of the show!" Elsu exclaimed.

Our Pokémon let out happy cries as they showed off their outfits.

"You guys did an amazing job!" Kat said, "They're beautiful!"

"And to add something extra, we made their outfits match your outfits," Rina explained, "Color-wise, anyway."

I looked between our runway clothes and the Pokémon and saw that some colors matched.

"That was a great idea," I exclaimed, "I cannot wait for tomorrow! The start of your claim to fame will start very soon, Rina! Are you ready?"

The pink-haired girl cast her gaze to the wooden floor as she gripped the hem of her skirt, her lips quivering slightly.

"I-I think I am... I don't know..." Rina confessed, "I guess I'm a little nervous. I mean, what if they don't like them?"

"Don't ever think like that, Rina." Yelena said sternly.

The others and I turned to Yelena with shock.

"Your designs are works of art, Rina. All it took was a little push for something amazing to happen," Yelena said, "I mean, I called for you and your friends to come over, didn't I? And I don't do that for just anybody."

That is true. Having Yelena call for Rina to showcase her designs on her runway is a tremendous honor.

"Take pride in your work, Rina, and I can assure you, all of your hard work will pay off," Yelena said, "How do you think I got here?"

Rina stared into Yelena's deep indigo eyes and nodded with a small smile.

"So, I'll ask again," I began, "Are you ready for your claim to fame tomorrow?"

Rina looked up and nodded firmly.

"Yes!" Rina said boldly.

The Pokémon all happily cried out with wide grins on their face.

"Well, you kids better head off to bed," Yelena said, "We'll have to get up early to get down to Goldenrod City to finish setting everything up. I'll help the little ones out of their outfits before sending them to you."

Nodding to the fashion icon, the six of us left Yelena with our Pokémon. After saying goodnight to the boys, the girls and I walked into our room and changed into our sleepwear. Sitting on the bed, I heard scratching at the door. Kat walked up to the door and opened it, only to have Libby, Angel, Snubbull, and Mawile come in. I smiled as I picked up my partner when she walked up to me.

"You guys ready tomorrow?" I asked, looking at the other Pokémon.

Our Pokémon happily cried out, answering my question in full.

"Well, let's get some sleep," Nina said, climbing into bed, "Big day tomorrow!"

After saying goodnight, the girls and I fell asleep with smiles.

I can't wait for tomorrow! I hope Rina will be okay.

My eyes fluttered to the sound of bird Pokémon outside the window. I sat up and yawned as I stretched out my limbs. I looked out the window and squinted as the sun beamed through the glass.

Today's the day! Today, Rina becomes a fashion star!

I hopped out of bed and went to change into my clothes. My head turned to the sound of yawning. I smiled when I saw the other girls starting to wake up.

"Morning, you three." I said.

The others looked over and smiled when they saw me.

"You're up early." Nina yawned.

"Well, I wasn't about to sleep in on Rina's big day!" I said, smiling at my pink-haired friend.

Rina returned the gesture as she petted her sleeping Snubbull. When dressed, I stepped out of the room and knocked on the boys' door.

"Come in!" said Eric from the inside.

With his permission, I saw that Eric and Elsu were dressed.

"You girls ready?" Eric asked.

"Just about," I said, "You guys ready to show it off today?"

"Oh, yeah!" Elsu said excitedly, "I wanna put on a good show so Rina could become more known!"

We're all doing this for Rina, but for Elsu to say it out loud is so sweet!

Then, I felt something fluffy hop on my shoulder. Glancing next to me, I smiled when I saw Libby's face.

"Hey, Libbs!" I said, "Are the others ready?"

"Yep!" said a familiar voice.

Turning around, I saw the other girls dressed and ready to go.

"Let's get going, gang," Kat said, "Best not to keep Yelena waiting!"

Nodding to our friend, we filed out of the hallway and walked down the stairs to see Quentin with six clear dress bags, three over each shoulder.

"Do you need a hand with that, Quentin?" I asked, rushing down the steps.

"Thank you, my dear girl." Quentin said.

I smiled before removing a bag from the butler's shoulder. The others came down and took the remaining bags off Quentin's shoulders.

"Thank you very much!" Quentin said, "I was about to come to get you after I put these in the car, but I guess I don't have to now,"

"Where's Yelena?" Kat asked.

"She's already at Goldenrod City. We can leave now if you kids have everything ready."

We glanced at one another and nodded.

"We're ready, Quentin!" I said.

"Splendid! Please, follow me!" Quentin said.

The six of us followed the butler outside to the white limo and placed the dress bags in the trunk.

"Hop in, kids," Quentin said, "Don't want to keep Madame Yelena waiting."

Obeying the butler, the six of us climbed into the limo with our Pokémon in tow.

"Next stop, Goldenrod City!" Quentin said.

When the engine flared to life, the limo pulled away from the villa and descended the hill. I leaned over the seats and grinned as I watched the cityscape fly by.

"I can't believe this is really happening!" Nina said suddenly, "Rina's gonna be a star by the end of this!"

"You guys are, too," Rina said, "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for your help."

"Don't mention it, Rini," Eric said, "Who would've thought we'd end up here while looking for you?"

Eric turned to Elsu with a wide grin. Our native friend let out a hearty laugh and shook his head fondly.

"I guess that makes sense," Elsu said, "Geez, to think we've been together for that long. We've been through a lot together, but not as much as you four have been through."

Eric, Kat, Nina, and I glanced at one another and smiled.

"That's true." Eric said.

"We'll be arriving soon, kids." Quentin said.

I smiled at Quentin's proclamation. Looking out the window, I saw Goldenrod City on the horizon.

We're almost there! Oh, I can't wait!

When the limo pulled into the city, Quentin weaved through the winding streets until we stopped in front of the Pokémon Center. In front of the silver and red building was a large wooden stage with blue velvet curtains and a white catwalk. Quentin got out of the car before opening the door for us.

"You children can head backstage where Madame Yelena is waiting." Quentin said.

"Thanks, Quentin!" we said as we climbed out of the limo.

With our outfits in hand, we walked up the staircase and went backstage. We were surprised to see many models pacings back and forth along the wooden floor, all wearing exquisite kimonos, all in different colors; some wore outfits similar to Ezra's clothing. Beside each model was a Pokémon wearing something similar to its trainer. There was an Absol, Umbreon, Gallade, Rapidash, Serperior, and much more elegant and gorgeous-looking Pokémon.

Wow, they're all so beautiful!

Looking around, I saw a woman with a light blue and purple kimono with flowers on it. Her hair looked similar to Yelena's.

Wait. Is that...?

"Yelena?" I asked.

The woman turned around and smiled. Our eyes widened in surprise.

"Ah, good! You kids made it!" she chirped.

"Yelena, you look..." Elsu began.

"Amazing!" Nina squealed, "Positively stunning!"

"Thank you," she chuckled.

"You did an incredible job making that kimono, Yelena," I said, "The colors compliment you well."

"Thank you, my dear."

Then, a soft cry caught our attention. I looked down and saw Luna walk up beside Yelena. The shiny Ninetales had an outfit that mimicked Yelena's and had purple streaks on its head, fur, and tails. Around its neck was a string of pearls and golden clip-on earrings.

"Wow, Luna looks amazing!" Kat exclaimed.

"Thank you," Yelena said, "Now, get ready in the dressing rooms. When you're done, go to the makeup artists. The expo starts in twenty."

Nodding to the woman, the six of us weaved past the other models and Pokémon to the dressing rooms. Upon arrival, I entered an empty dressing room and shut the door. I hung up the dress bag and unzipped it, admiring the outfit inside.

Alright, let's do this!

I sighed heavily before changing into the outfit Rina had made for me. I soon turned to the mirror behind me and beamed.

I look amazing! Rina did a fantastic job!

I took out Libby's outfit and slipped it on her. After I attached the accessories, my smile only grew.

"You look adorable, Libby!" I squealed.

Libby happily cried out and did a small twirl, causing me to chuckle. I picked up my partner and stepped out of the dressing room to see my friends in their outfits.

"You guys look incredible!" I exclaimed.

"So do you!" Eric said.

"Rina, you did an extraordinary job with these clothes!" Kat said, "They're perfect!"

"Aw, thanks, Kat!" she said, "That means a lot!"

"Let's get our makeup done, guys," Nina said, "Fifteen minutes until show time!"

Nodding to the redhead, we walked over to the makeup artists. They immediately knew who we were and sat us down.

I've never had my makeup done before. I guess this is what models go through before every fashion expo.

When our makeup was complete, we glanced at one another and beamed.

"We look awesome!" Kat said.

"I'll say!" Eric said.

I looked at Libby and the other Pokémon and saw they were well-groomed.

They look so cute!

Then, Yelena stepped into the center of the room and clapped twice, causing everyone to grow quiet.

"Attention, everyone!" Yelena said, "Today, not only will we be showing off my new clothing line, we will be paving the way for this young designer here."

Yelena then gestured her hand towards Rina.

"The outfits she, her friends, and their Pokémon wear now are made by her own hands," Yelena explained, "They will be the final act of this exhibition, so put on a show to get them ready, understand?"

"Understood!" the models said.

"Wonderful! Final preparations, everyone! We're on in five!"

When Yelena walked away, the models dispersed.

"Talk about direct," Kat commented, "Well, we should get ready as well. We've only got five minutes."

Nodding to our friend, we started preparing to go out. I glanced behind me to see that Rina hadn't moved at all. A sad smile appeared as I walked over to my pink-haired friend.

"Hey, Rina," I began, "You okay?"

"N-Not really," Rina said, "To have Yelena tell everyone that my designs are the closing number of her exhibition is daunting. I mean, what if no one likes them?"

The pressure is eating her alive. Not on my watch!

"I get that you're scared, Rina, but remember what Yelena told you yesterday," I said, "Your designs are works of art, and all great artists show off their work. Now, it's time for you to show off your art to the rest of the world! You're the next big thing, Rina; this is your dream come true!"

Libby and Snubbull cried out happily, agreeing with me. Rina gripped the hem of her skirt before looking up at me.

"Thanks, Eragona," she said, "I truly wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."

She then wrapped her arms around me. Sighing, I embraced my pink-haired friend tightly.

"Time to make you a star," I said, pulling away, "You ready?"

"I am now!" she said.

"Then, let's go!"

Taking my friend's hand, we sprinted to catch up to the others. Once at their side, we watched as Yelena walked out on the catwalk with Luna at her side.

Wow, that's a big crowd, yet Yelena walks out with confidence and elegance. Perks of being a model, I suppose.

"Welcome everyone to another Beautiful Norm Spectacular!" Yelena proclaimed.

The crowd erupted in cheer and applause.

"Today, I will be showcasing a new clothing line for both people and Pokémon," Yelena said, "Not only that, I will be showcasing the designs of a young designer all the way from the Kalos region to give her a fabulous kick start to her fashion career! I'd get my pens and contracts ready if I were you!"

Though her tone sounded deliberate, I couldn't help but chuckle at Yelena's joke.

"Now, let's get this exhibition underway without further ado!" Yelena proclaimed.

When she and Luna walked backstage, two female models walked out with their Pokémon. One model wore a traditional black furisode with a Houndoom at her side, and the other wore a pink modernized kimono with an Espeon beside her.

Wow, they're pros at strutting and posing. They must've been practicing for weeks. Months maybe!

When they came backstage, two male models walked out after. One model had a teal modernized furisode with an Absol beside him, and the other wore a red kimono with a Flareon at his side.

They look so fantastic out there! I hope we can measure up to them.

When they returned, two models: a man and a woman, walked out, wearing dark blue modernized furisodes. Beside the woman was a Purugly; beside the man was a Nidorino.

Wow, they look like twins. That's so cool!

Suddenly, a thick black smoke covered the catwalk, masking the models and audience.

"What's going on!?" Eric coughed out, "Where's that smoke coming from?"

"I didn't authorize a smokescreen!" Yelena exclaimed, waving away the smoke.

"Beautifly, get out here and use Gust!" Kat said, throwing a Pokéball.

The Butterfly Pokémon appeared and whipped up a strong gust of wind, blowing away the black smoke. When the smoke cleared, the two models and their Pokémon were gone.

What happened to them?

The crowd started murmuring out of shock and concern.

"What in the world just happened?" Nina asked.

"I don't know, but I don't like it..." Elsu said.

"Yelena! Yelena!" cried a young voice.

Turning around, the man with the teal furisode ran up to us.

"My Absol! He's gone!" he cried.

"What!?" Yelena questioned.

"And my Houndoom is gone, too!" the orange-clothed model cried.

One by one, models stated their Pokémon were gone; a Gallade, Altaria, Lopunny, and an Audino had also disappeared.

"How could this be?" Yelena asked aloud.

I hummed in thought before stepping away from the group. I glanced back at the concerned models to see that some Pokémon were left untouched: a Rapidash, Serperior, Flareon, and an Espeon, to name a few.

A Gallade, Altaria, Lopunny, Audino, Houndoom, and an Absol. Even a Manectric and Gardevoir disappeared. Why were only those Pokémon taken and not the others...?

As I thought about the missing Pokémon and the Pokémon that remained backstage, my eyes widened when the pieces fell into place.

The missing Pokémon can achieve something the other Pokémon can't, and that's... Oh, no...

"Guys!" I cried, rushing over to the others, "I know what happened to the Pokémon!"

Everyone turned to me with eager eyes.

"What happened?" asked a female model.

"The missing Pokémon, they're all capable of achieving a greater power: Mega Evolution," I began, turning to the others, "And who do we know of that loves stealing Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution?"

My friends' eyes became saucers.

"Team Xenon!" they exclaimed.

"Who's Team Xenon?" asked a male model.

"They're an evil organization from the Ezonia region who liberate Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution," I explained, "Your Absol, Gallade, Lopunny; all of them taken because they can achieve that power."

"They must've planned to infiltrate Yelena's exhibition to take certain models' Pokémon."

"How much you wanna bet those previous two models were grunts of Team Xenon?" Eric asked.

"And there must've been another somewhere backstage to cause the cover-up with the Smokescreen attack," Rina said, "This is just awful!"

Murmuring soon arose amongst the models.

"We've gotta get those Pokémon back." Elsu said.

"And we are," I said, "Every last one of them."

"Please do!" Yelena abruptly cried.

All eyes fell onto the fashion icon.

"To think that some people have the nerve to come and steal my models' Pokémon for their own amusement is sickening; utterly sickening!" Yelena cried in frustration, "I've never been so hurt and angry before. Please, find those stolen Pokémon, for my models' sake!"

"What about the exhibition?" Rina asked.

"I could care less about the expo. Right now, I only care about getting my models' Pokémon back. You kids go find them and bring them back!"

"You don't have to tell us twice, Yelena!" Nina said, "Don't worry, everyone; we'll get them back!"

"We promise!" Elsu said boldly.

Our Pokémon boldly cried out, all wearing confident grins. After Kat retracted her Beautifly, we rushed off stage and away from the concerned crowd. I glanced behind me to see Yelena step out onto the catwalk.

"Everyone, please remain calm!" she said, "The situation is being dealt with as we speak!"

Her voice became fainter as we drew near the city's exit.

Don't worry, everyone! We'll get your Pokémon back if it's the last thing we do!