~Ithink we could do it if we tried, if only to sayyou'remine. Sofia; know thatyouandIshouldn't feel like a crime~
Miette didn’t know why exactly she had started this “competition for Ash” with Serena. She had no actual affection for Ash, outside of platonic of course. She knew she had noticed the girl's crush on the boy, and she had wanted to help get him to notice it… in her own way. That made it seem like she was patronizing her. But she was trying to help at first!
Then she had seen how far Serena had fallen for Ash, and well. For some reason she didn’t like that. She had thought that it was because she herself had gotten a crush on him, but now she knows that isn’t it. Then she had won the Poke Puff challenge (well. She had lost, but so had Serena, and to Miette, that meant she had won. It was a challenge to Serena and Serena hadn’t won!) and it was a while before she had seen Serena, and she had started her performance and she intended to stick with it.
While it was only at Miette’s first Pokemon Showcase that she had actually seen and talked with Serena, she had watched Serena’s first. Learning that she was going into Pokemon Performing, something that Miette was already debating, had filled her with a sort of fire. A fire that had gotten stronger when she had seen Serena on stage. When she saw how determined she was.
It was a different kind of determination then what she had had back at the Poke Puff competition, though. Back then, it was a determination to win, and without nervousness. This determination? It was to show she could have what she wanted, despite how nervous she was.That had fueled the fire she was filled with. So, she learned where the next showcase was, and had found Serena.
It… took Miette a second to realize it was Serena. Serena had, apparently, decided that she had needed a big change. She cut her hair, and her back was turned, so Miette couldn’t see her face, but it was Serena. And she looked great with it short. But she couldn’t tell her that outright. She had a role in the performance she had to keep. So, she teased her, wondered if she had had a big change, and if it was that she had gotten with Ash. Told her she watched her performance (And oh, did she. She had watched the moment up to Fennekin falling So Many Times). She relished in Serena’s reaction, found them endearing entertaining.
She passed the theme performance (of course she did, it was Pokepuffs). She performed. She had fun. Then, she was able to watch Serena. And oh had that fueled the fire more. She knew that Serena had to have had fun, and was serious about performing, because she had came back after her Fennekin’s fall. But she looked great, and Miette recognized the style of dress she was wearing. It was from Valerie. One of the most renown designer in Kalos, if not the world. It was shorter than what Valerie would normally make, but if it was made for Serena specifically, Serena could have asked her to make it shorter, or hell, Serena could have shortened it herself.
Miette wanted to see more of the determination she had watched the first time. She was done with the freestyle performance anyway, she was allowed to focus on Serena. And her pokemon of course (Which her Fennekin had evolved into Braixen!). She watched and she had loved it. She was happy for Serena. She was glad that they would be able to compete in ways that weren't over a boy Miette had no actual interest in at all.
She hadn’t won against Serena that time, but she didn’t care, Serena looked so happy. Well. She had cared a little. Because she hadn’t won, she had to look out for the next showcase somewhere else. To catch up (and maybe see Serena again). She overheard Ash tell Serena that she had looked great in the dress. Yes! A way for Miette to tell her what she had thought, watching Serena on that stage, without bringing it up herself. She said Ash was right. She told Serena that she would win the next one, and the Competition For Ash, that she was only interested in because it gave her a way to get close to Serena, if only for a moment, without it being awkward.
After winning her second Princess Key, she had heard about a Dance Party that Monsieur Pierre was having, and she knew that if she was seeing it, Serena was too! She was going to see her in a way that wasn’t a competition (mostly. There was still Ash). She would’ve thought that she was going to be going with Ash, but apparently she had gotten an Eevee that was only comfortable around one of Clemont's Pokemon, Bunelby, so she was going to go with Clemont. Perfect! She would be able to keep up her charade, and get one more up on Serena in one Competition. She was dragging Ash around, grabbing dresses and accessories to try on for Ash to hold, keeping half an eye on what Serena was going to wear. Red huh? She had thought when she saw Serena go to change, holding mostly red dresses to try. When she went to try her dresses, she made sure to keep what could go with red in mind. She had landed on Blue. It would go with red, match her hair, and match what she usually wore at Showcases. It was perfect!
When Miette had seen Serena, she had looked better than what she could have thought of, but the style with the bows and the ruffles matched her perfectly. She had wanted to dance with Serena, but she had gone with Ash, so she made do and had fun dancing. She danced with many people, but none of them was the one she wanted to. Fighting Serena in a Pokemon battle was better than she expected. Her Eevee evolved into Sylveon, and truly danced great. When she sees Serena after the dance, she reminds her of the Ash Competition.
Then she won her third Princess Key, and got to Master Class, and went up against Serena. She knew what to expect against Serena (of course she did, she watched her performances every time they were shown at the pokemon center. She rewatched her wins on the pokevision). But even while watching Serena’s personal performance after her own, seeing how much fun she and her Pokemon were having, she still didn’t think Serena would beat her by such a landslide.
It really… hurt. Not only was her loss disappointing, but there was also the fact that Miette had joined to go against Serena…and it was already over. Two performances were against Serena. She was listening to Serena talk to her Pokemon, trying not to cry when she decided. Miette would be Serena’s rival again one day, but for now? They were friends and she was going to make sure Serena knew that she was rooting for her. And…to tell Serena, in the way of her role, that Serena’s dream was Miette’s, too. She told Serena that she had better win this for both of them. Nini said that to her too, but Miette didn’t know Nini, so she didn’t really care. She lost her battle against her tears when she had told Serena to win not only for herself, but for her rivals too.
She was able to watch Serena’s other performances in the dressing room, even after her loss, and she was glad. Serena had beat Shauna and Jessalie.
She was now against Aria. Miette, Nini, and Shauna had watched her performance, Shauna giving her some sort of knowing look? When she had watched with stars in her eyes. Miette had never seen Aria perform, not really. It had seemed like Shauna had, but after Serena’s, it had felt a bit…lackluster. It seemed like Aria wasn’t really having fun while performing, the smile wasn’t one of joy, it was of confidence, like she just knew she was going to win. And that was it, wasn’t it? Serena had beat Miette and the others by so much because she didn’t actually perform to win, just to have fun. She saw Shauna and Nini watching Aria with stars in their eyes, and couldn’t understand why.
Serena had performed with her pokemon, her pokemon seemingly just knowing what to do half the time. Serena had barely given an actual order, just a “now Pancham” or a “ready Sylveon?” or a “C’mon Braixen”, sometimes it was just a nod. And the ending performance? It was a flower blooming into sparkles. After that, nothing would really be able to compare. Aria had danced, and acted like she was having fun, sure, but it really just looked like performing to keep her position. Everyone who had come today was performing to become Kalos Queen, yes, but it really seemed like only Serena and Shauna were having fun while doing it.
Hell, after Miette’s round, hearing Serena talk to her Pokemon, Serena had told them it didn’t matter the outcome, just have fun. Miette didn’t really know Shauna, not like Serena did, but it seemed less like fun was more important than winning, just that to was an expected outcome of performing.
That’s why Miette was drawn to Serena after that Poke Puff thing, wasn’t it? Serena was fun to rile up, sure, but watching Serena just prepare to perform was better. Actually seeing her, how she was having fun while performing? That was so much better.
Serena was perfectly fit to be Queen. Yet somehow, Aria had beat her by a landslide. What?! Miette had taken note of how much Pink was there when they showed the Audience! It had to have been that Serena’s was better in person, but the cameras (somehow!) made Aria’s better. Shauna had looked like she had expected it. How? “Guess not even Serena can’t beat Aria, huh?” Shauna had said, and Nini nodded. Was Miette the only one who had picked up on how stupid that was? Serena’s was so much better! Miette had gritted her teeth, let Shauna think whatever it was that she was thinking when telling Miette that Aria was just “out of all of our leagues” and “not to blame Serena”, or whatever. Miette knew why she was angry.
Kalos is fucking blind. She was sure she had muttered that, too quietly for Shauna and Nini to hear. It had to be that Kalos wasn’t ready for a new Queen yet. Anyone who actually thought that Aria’s was better is stupid.
Whatever. She had to know that their rivalry, their friendship, wasn’t over yet. They would try again next season, and even if Miette didn’t win, hopefully Kalos would be ready for Serena to be Queen. She was walking by when she had seen Palermo walk into Serena’s room, and who she had assumed was Serena’s mom? Maybe? Walk over too. She walked past Serena’s mom and hid behind her for a bit and overheard Serena’s and Palermo’s conversation. Not give people strength? From a smile that encouraged Miette people to have fun? Neither Aria’s performance, nor smile, gave her strength. Honestly, just disappointment. Aria had been built up as this unbeatable performer, and her performance today? It was just sad in comparison to Serena’s.
She had walked away, deciding to talk to Serena later.
Later, when she talked with Serena, with Nini and Shauna there too, she decided to view this as a fresh start for their journey. Next season, they would all be willing to perform, compete against each other for the crown. Miette then walked away, deciding to next time make sure her performance is as appealing as it is fun, just like Serena.
~Ithink we could do it if we tried, if only to sayyou'remine. Serena; know thatyouandIshouldn't feel like a crime~
The Kalos league. The Lumiose Conference.
Miette knew that that was where Ash, and therefore Serena, was going to be. She was only able to get her seat for the Semi-finals and Finals, but she didn’t care. Even though she was rooting for Ash, that wasn’t why she had come. She watched Ash’s battles over the next two days, and she watched the award ceremony after he had lost. Until it was interrupted by big red and black vines, and a roar. She got caught up in the panic, and the evacuation, she wasn’t able to see Serena. Miette saw Shauna and her friends helping around, and decided to continue what they were doing after they went to do something else to help.
She made sure everyone had shelter and was comfortable enough, she talked with doctors to help those who had gotten injured. She watched as the News team updated and was interrupted by “team Flare” or whatever the man had said. She gasped and worried even more as the News team got control again, and showed Serena helping in the chaos. Serena would be fine, she told herself. Serena had travelled with Ash after all.
After a while, there seemed to be a black out from the News team, and everyone was in the dark for almost three hours. Miette was able to focus on the injured and scared people and Pokemon, but the worry was stuck in her mind for the whole time. It didn’t fade until there was a News report broadcasted from Anistar city that they had gotten an update. The Sundial was being pulled towards something, something that looked a lot like the “Zygarde” that had been at the center of the Crisis.
After three more hours, it was all over. There was destruction that needed rebuilding, but the threat was gone. Miette had told herself that Serena needed some peace after everything and had convinced herself to stop seeking her out. A couple weeks later, though, a stage was being set up in the town square. Serena, Shauna, and Jessilie all performed and made so many people smile after the destruction. Serena was fine, she thought, and Miette didn’t need anything more.
~YouknowI'lldo anythingyouaskmeto, But oh my god,IthinkI’min love withyou~
Miette knew what it was now. She now knew why she hated that Serena was so in love with Ash, why seeing Serena happy made her happy. Why she was okay with losing to Serena.
She hated her timing though. She realized what it was when she was going to talk to Serena before she left after overhearing her call with Palermo. Miette had been rushing to get there before Serena had left, and had arrived just in time to watch Serena kissing Ash and going down the escalator.
Miette was in love with Serena.
What a cliche, huh? A person likes riling up their rival, just to realize too late they love that rival.
Miette was even more a cliche than that though, wasn’t she. Realizing she’s in love when that love is in love with someone else, and leaving. Pikachu had noticed her staring. Miette put her finger up to her lips in “shh” motion, and walked away.