Serena's POV

"You're next, Ash." I said smiling at him.

"Huh?" He said clueless.

"You'll be going for your 5th badge next!" I said excitedly. I could see the fire in eyes and the determination he had.

"My fifth badge already..." He said in a slightly surprised tone.

"Looks like the time has finally come, Ash." Clemont said looking up at the jet haired boy.

"My next gym battle is against you." Ash said with determination he had his eyes.

"So after we leave here, we'll be heading to Lumious City." The yellow haired boy said returning the determined look.

"Let's give it all we've got, Pikachu!" He said to the mouse Pokemon.

"Pi pikachu!"

Later that night - Ash's POV

Everybody in the room we were staying in at the Pokemon Center was sound asleep. Or so I thought. I was psyched for the eventual gym battle that Clemont and I would be having soon that I wasn't able to get to sleep. After awhile, I then heard someone stirring and get up. I noticed Serena walk out the door.

I grew curious why she was up and where she was going so I decided to follow her. I lost track of her as I followed her, but eventually I did find her. She was standing at the bay of Courmarine City looking out over the water. I could tell what she was thinking by looking at her. She was thinking about how she lost the Pokemon Showcase earlier today. I really felt bad for her. I then saw her drop to her knees and cry.

Serena's POV

I stood out at over the bay in Courmarine City and looked out over the water of the ocean with Fennekin and Pancham doing the same. I was thinking about how I had lost the Pokemon Showcase. How Fennekin tripped over the ribbon because I hadn't cut it enough. And then, the tears began to fall where I fell to my knees and began to cry loudly.

"Fennekin!"

"Pancham cham cham!"

I could hear both Fennekin and Pancham trying to cheer me up and get me to stop crying. Eventually, both Pokemon jumped into my arms.

"Oh you..." I held them both tightly.

After a minute or two, I looked at them both with a smile.

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault." I said to the two.

"Fennekin!"

"Cham cham!"

"But I've never felt this before. Know why? I'm a Pokemon Performer now! I'm finally at the first step of my dream!" I said to Fennekin and Pancham.

"That's the spirit, Serena! Don't give up." I heard a voice. That voice sounded like...

"Ash!" I turned around quickly.

I stood up as both Pokemon jumped out of my arms and stood next to me. Ash walked to me slowly smiling.

"I know how it feels to lose. Trust me. But that's all the more reason not to give up! That's all the more reason to be more determined and get even better! Don't let one loss get you down. In fact, I think losing is a good thing! When you lose, it lets you know that there are still things you should improve on and change. So don't let this one loss get you down." Ash said with.

I smiled brightly at him and nodded affirmatively we then both looked out over the water together.

"I thought you were awesome for the record." He said out of nowhere.

I looked at him in shock after he said that. "Y-You did?"

He looked at me and nodded. "Yeah, totally. The way you dressed Fennekin was both cute and awesome!"

I smiled happily at that and nodded. "Thank you, Ash!"

"Just keep trying as hard as you can! I know you can it, Serena. Don't give up until it's over. I know you can become Kalos Queen!" He said with determination in his voice.

I smiled at him and nodded with a determined look of my own.

"Yeah! I won't give up. My dream toward becoming a Pokemon Performer is just beginning! Fennekin, Pancham! Let's be sure to give this all we got!" I said to bear and fox Pokemon.

"Fennekin!" The fox said with determination.

"Pancham cham!" The bear said pumping its fist.

"Good, as long as you keep that determination, you'll be able to do it. Just keep at it and you'll make it eventually." Ash looked at me as he started to walk away. "Come on. We should get back to the Pokemon Center."

I nodded and began to follow him as I began to think to myself.

"I can't give up now! My dream of becoming a Pokemon Performer is starting now. There's no way I can let this one slip up get to me. Fennekin and Pancham have both been trying as hard as they can. If I give up now, I'll let them down. I can't let that happen. From now on, we'll keep trying as hard as we can to make it to the top! Ash taught not to give up until its over. So I won't! Someday, one day I'll become Kalos Queen!"

There was no way I was going to let this one loss get the better of me. From now on, I wouldn't give up on my dream.

The Next Morning - Serena's POV

"Hey, where's Serena?" I heard Bonnie's voice as I was walking through the hallway to the lobby of the Pokemon Center.

"That's strange. She knows we're leaving soon." Clemont said.

"I'll go look for her." I walked into the lobby as Ash turned around giving me a surprised look. "Huh!?"

"Ta da! Sorry I'm late. What do you think?" I said as I spun around with a new look.

"Pancham pan!"

"Ken ken!"

Both Pokemon said as they walked next to me as if saying "Say hello to the new Serena!"

"Your hair!" Ash shouted in surprise.

"What in the world did you do!?" Clemont asked in shock.

"You chopped most of it off! Come on! I liked your long hair!" Bonnie shouted.

"Time for a change. I think it looks kinda cute." I said with a smile and giggle.

What I had done is that I got up early this morning is cut my hair shorter, put on a pink tank top and skirt with a long red scarf going over my neck down to both sides of my waist along with a matching red hat.

"I think so too." Ash said with a smile. I could tell it was sincere.

"Aww, thank you Ash."

"Huh?" Ash looked down toward my neck. "Is that ribbon...?"

"Yeah...It's the present you gave me the other day..." I said with a blush.

"You're wearing it..." He then smiled. "Looks great!"

"Pikachu!"

I smiled and giggled at that and then ran out the doors of the Pokemon Center.

"Okay! Let's go to Lumious City! I'll race you there!" I shouted happily as I ran down the street.

"Hey! It's my gym battle you know!" I heard Ash running behind me.

"Yeah! Against me!" Clemont shouted after.

What Ash had told me last night gave me a big confidence boost. My first toward my dream of being a Pokemon Performer has just started. I won't give up until its over. I knew Ash and the others would be there to support me along the way. And I'd do the same for them. So from now, I won't give up until its over.