Fleurrh City—finally, they had arrived!
Ash and his friends made their way straight to the Pokémon Center to register for the upcoming Pokémon Showcase.
Once the registration was done, Serena finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"Serena, you can do it! Dedenne, Squishy, and I will all be cheering for you!" Bonnie encouraged with both hands full—holding Dedenne and the little green blob in her arms.
"Dedenne!"
"That's right, Serena. This will be your third Princess Key. Once you win this one, you'll be able to enter the Master Class Pokémon Showcase," Clemont reminded her with a determined smile.
"Serena, go for it! Believe in yourself!" Ash added with his usual fiery enthusiasm.
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu chimed in, pumping its tiny fists.
Serena nodded firmly. "Mm! I will! Braixen, Pancham, Sylveon and I have trained for so long. This time, we'll win our third Princess Key for sure, and then I'll step onto the same stage as Miss Aria herself!"
Her eyes gleamed with confidence.
Finally, the Showcase was about to begin!
But this time, there was a very special participant—someone who was already the talk of Fleurrh City.
She was none other than Amelia, the daughter of the city's wealthiest family!
In Fleurrh City, Amelia's reputation was nearly unmatched, largely due to her family background. But it wasn't just her status—her skills as a Performer were nothing to scoff at either.
"Braixen, Pancham, Sylveon, let's give it our very best!" Serena called out to her partners.
"Pan! Pan!"
"Braix!"
"Miyaaa!"
"Please move."
A cold voice suddenly cut in behind Serena. She turned, startled, and instinctively stepped aside with her Pokémon.
"Ah!"
But even after moving, she was still shoved slightly to the side.
The source of the voice was a tall girl with long purple hair flowing beneath a wide-brimmed hat. At her side walked a graceful Espeon and a Shiny Dragonair.
"Sorry," the girl muttered, though her tone was anything but sincere.
Serena, ever kind-hearted, naively thought she really had been in the way. What she didn't know was that the girl had done it on purpose.
In her eyes, the stage only had room for one beautiful girl. And she was determined to crush the Performer with the Sylveon.
The Fleurrh City Rookie Class Showcase was about to begin!
This time, the first round's theme performance required each Performer to win the heart of a Pokémon—with only their own charm and the help of their partners. The test? Capturing the attention of a Rhyhorn!
Talk about coincidence.
After all, Serena had grown up with Rhyhorn since she was little. She even knew what kind of outfit would catch a Rhyhorn's eye.
Unsurprisingly, she breezed through the first round without her Pokémon needing to use a single move.
The other Performers and their Pokémon, however, had to resort to moves like Attract or Captivate to hold the Rhyhorn's attention.
Meanwhile, in the VIP lounge, the head judge and former Kalos Queen of Pokémon Showcases, Palermo, was observing with her trademark sunglasses on.
"Miss Palermo, you must keep an eye on Amelia today! Her performance is truly extraordinary," gushed Fleurrh City's richest man, personally accompanying her with an eager smile.
But Palermo's expression remained cool. "Whether it's extraordinary isn't for us to decide. It's for the audience. I know what you're hinting at, but leave. I'll choose the Performers I see potential in."
With that, she slid her sunglasses back on. The rich man could only smile awkwardly and retreat.
Palermo didn't need money. What she sought was new, fresh talent worthy of the Showcase spotlight.
"Ladies and gentlemen, now it's time for the second round—the Freestyle Performance! Let's see what dazzling shows our Performers and their Pokémon will bring us!" Pierre's booming voice announced from the stage.
The first to perform was Amelia, alongside her Espeon and—drawing gasps from the crowd—a shiny pink Dragonair!
Using Espeon's Psychic abilities in combination with Dragonair's Captivate, Amelia delivered a mesmerizing performance that left the audience impressed.
Then came Serena's turn!
"Braixen, Pancham, Sylveon—let's go!"
Braixen's fiery flames lit up the stage, while Sylveon's Fairy Wind sparkled in the air. Pancham counterbalanced with its dark, edgy Dark Pulse. Together, the three blended elegance and power seamlessly.
Sylveon even incorporated the flowing dance moves Serena had choreographed back when it was still an Eevee.
For the finale, Serena combined Braixen's massive Fire Blast with Pancham's Dark Pulse—an explosive yet graceful finish!
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause that seemed to shake the theater!
"Wonderful! Our beautiful young Performers have showcased not just their Pokémon, but also their own radiant smiles—that is the essence of youth! Now, ladies and gentlemen, it's time to vote for your favorite Performer and Pokémon!"
Buzz!
All at once, the glow rods in the audience lit up, sending streams of light into the devices worn by the Performers onstage.
Serena's heart pounded in her chest.
Amelia's popularity was sky-high—she was easily Serena's strongest rival here.
I can do this… I can do this!
"Braix!"
"Pancha!"
"Miyaaa!"
Her Pokémon echoed her determination.
"And now… the winner of the Fleurrh City Rookie Class Showcase is… Performer Serena! Congratulations!"
The theater roared in celebration—Serena had done it. She had won her third Princess Key!
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