When they touched down in Kalos the next day, Dawn bounded out the plane quickly, May having to grab Max by the collar because the boy was too immersed in his phone. Once out of the plane, they grabbed their baggage and met Serena, Miette, and apparently Clemont too at the lobby.

Clemont had Bonnie in tow, and had said that he was strolling around Lumiose with his sister when he bumped into Serena and Miette.

And that leads us to now.

Since Max was eager to document more Kalosian Pokémon and not watch four female teenagers gush over the latest fashion trends, he suggested that he'll go with Clemont and Bonnie instead. It looked like Clemont was all too eager to show what he knew of the surrounding Pokémon, and Bonnie was all too happy to rope Max into her matchmaking attempts.

So, back to those four...

Miette and Serena were recommending the best Kalosian snacks, desserts, and the shops to get them, as well as touring the area that the show will be at. All the time, the four girls chatted animatedly about current events and throwing around ideas about the show.

Dawn and May actually killed time this way until the show started. This was actually where it got a tad complicated.

When they settled down, the stage was already lit up bright. Lights lined the edge, joined together by a red ribbon. The announcer got on the stage, greeted the audience, and announced the theme. Throughout the contest, multiple talented performers amazed them, if Dawn's very much filled notebook and video record was anything to go by.

Soon after, the audience had voted and apparently the girl with the Flareon had won. May was hoping that the performer with that Roserade would win, but at least they had got third place.

Dawn shared the video recording with May the whole way back to the Pokémon Center while Miette and Serena hung out in the back. So...of course Miette talks about her love life.

"Have you contacted Ash lately?" Miette asked Serena, who whipped her head so quickly she almost got whiplashed.

"Wh-what does that mean?!" Serena shouted a bit too loudly, because Dawn and May are looking back in confusion and concern.

"I mean, have you talked to him recently?" Miette waved the two girls off, indicating nothing is happening.

"I-in the chat—"

"No, I mean one-on-one. DMs. You know, your private messages—"

Serena had to really slap her hand on Miette's mouth to stop her right there. When she felt something warm hit her palm, she retracted it so fast.

"Well?" Miette tested, and got a response.

"I...I wasn't thinking of it, surprisingly. I still want to prove myself to be a great person, but it's...becoming less of an infatuation thing. Don't get me wrong!" Serena put her hands up. "I still think he's the coolest friend I've ever had, just...it's just that he's a bit out of my league and I am ready to accept that. Also, he's got a distant look recently, like back at that fair. Remember he was talking about his adventures? He seemed like he had a lot of fun in Alola, then he got to recent events."

"And?" Miette prompted. Serena took a breath.

"When he talked about his new friends Gou and Koharu, I remember he looked the most excited when talking about adventuring with Gou. After that, I began thinking. Realized that Ash doesn't need someone that could anchor him down from his one ambition.

"The future I wanted with Ash was to eventually settle down somewhere. Start a family, maybe. But I'm certain that that's not Ash wants, and I found that that's not what I want either." Miette listened as Serena continued her rant. "Now, I simply want to put myself out there, to perform in these contests all over the world. I can't do that if I'm busy confined in one place. And honestly, I think Ash found someone that can understand his love for adventure.

"So, in conclusion, I'm going to stay away from this 'love' thing for now, and focus on contests and work myself to be a better performer to get my emotions across to the audience. I know you and Ash will support me, just as I will support you two. And I'll work hard to achieve my goals, too. "

When Serena finished, Miette looked at her softly. They had stopped in front of the Pokemon Center, May and Dawn having already walked in. Miette turned herself to look at Serena fully.

"If that's what you're going for, I'll support you along the way. I'll try to usurp you though." She winked, to which Serena rolls her eyes. "But no seriously, once you make that decision you're gonna have to give it your all to achieve that goal. You've already come close to being Kalos Queen; take what you learned and go challenge Aria again. After that is when you go international." She extends her hand to Serena. "Promise me that?"

Serena nods, brightening, and Miette knows she's smiling herself because of it. "Of course!"

Shaking on it, Miette pulls Serena closer to her, causing her to yelp. She gets close to her ear and whispers,

"If you're not going after Ash, then I get to do that, right?"

Serena scowled at Miette, who cackles. "Miette, I literally just told you Ash likes someone else!"

Miette continues laughing as she goes past Serena into the Pokémon Center. She doesn't have to worry about that, Miette thought, breaking into a sprint when she sees Serena chasing after her. After all, I think I like someone else as well.

——

"What took you guys so long?" May asks, noticing Miette and Serena come in panting heavily and sitting down at their dining table in the catering area, accompanied with Dawn and Max.

"We...had a talk, that's all," Miette caught her breath after sitting down next to Dawn.

"A pretty long one too, it seems. Did we keep you long?" Serena asked, which Dawn shakes her head to.

"Okay, it wasn't that long. What'd you talk about?" May sits up, attention now on the two performers.

"Mostly about what we're going to do in the future. Other than that, pretty personal." Miette answers, and the other two nod their heads.

"Can we eat yet?" Max's voice cuts through their conversation, and May pokes his side.

"We just ordered, there's no way the food's coming already—"

And in that moment, and much to May's surprise, the waiter had come back with five main courses, piping hot and delicious. After the food had been set down on the table, Dawn and May explain that they weren't sure what their Kalos friends had wanted so they went for the recommended, which was fine to the both of them.

The rest of the night was full of laughter and smiles.

——

I LIVE