"Ash~ where exactly are we going to train?" Serena finally spoke up after quietly following him through the forest trail. He hadn't stopped walking even once.
Ash didn't answer her question immediately. He gently placed Froakie on his shoulder, eyes scanning the woods for signs of wild Pokémon.
Instead, he turned and asked her,
"Remember yesterday evening during the camp's introduction event? When Professor Oak asked us to share our dreams—Serena, you said you weren't sure what you liked or what your dream was."
"That… really stuck with me." Ash's tone was calm, but serious.
"Have you ever truly thought about that before?"
"I…" Serena bit her lip. A flicker of confusion crossed her face. After a pause, she said, "I never really thought about it."
Growing up shy, timid, and lacking confidence, Serena had never dared to dream.
She didn't believe there was anything she could accomplish—not with her personality.
But these past few days—being around Ash, receiving his encouragement, watching his determination—something had started to change.
She had started to think about it.
"Ash, my mom is a famous Rhyhorn racing champion in Kalos. I've been around racing since I was little. I even trained for it…" Serena paused.
"Do you like Rhyhorn racing?" Ash asked gently.
He already knew where this was going.
He knew from the original timeline that Serena would one day choose the path of a Pokémon Performer.
But that was exactly why he wasn't going to give her the answer directly.
Dreams weren't something you inherited.
They weren't supposed to be given by others.
Dreams should be forged through one's own reflection—recognized, embraced, and yearned for from the depths of the heart.
And because Ash genuinely cared about Serena, he wanted to help guide her toward finding that answer herself.
"Rhyhorn racing…" Serena looked down, her fingers lightly gripping the hem of her shirt. "Back home, Mom would ask me to train. I always seemed resistant, but honestly… I didn't hate it."
"I was really proud of her. Her accomplishments amazed me. At first, the racing training even felt fresh and exciting."
"But the more I practiced, the more I realized—I couldn't find the joy in it. It didn't click with me. I don't think I'm suited to be a racer like her."
Her voice grew softer.
"But… I haven't told her that. I know she's always hoped I'd follow in her footsteps."
There was a trace of guilt in her expression.
Ash didn't think there was anything wrong with that.
Dreams couldn't be forced.
Doing something you don't love only brings frustration—and half-baked effort.
Sure, with her mother's training, Serena might one day become a decent racer—maybe even a 70 or 80 out of 100.
But without that deep, passionate love for the path, she would never surpass her mother's legacy, never reach the top of that field.
Whether in this life or the previous one, Ash had seen it before—successful parents who hoped their children would inherit their career and ideals.
That legacy mattered most to them.
But children often wanted to step out of that shadow.
To blaze their own trail.
And that's exactly what Serena was feeling now.
"If you do figure out what your dream is," Ash said gently, "then when the time is right, talk to your mom about it. Be honest. She's your mother—she'll understand, because she loves you."
"Mm-hmm~" Serena nodded with a soft smile, her earlier gloom beginning to lift.
Ash smiled back.
"Let's keep talking about dreams," he said, bringing the conversation back around.
"In the Pokémon world, there are all kinds of dream-worthy professions—Trainer, Breeder, Coordinator, Researcher, Watcher, Sommelier, Performer…"
Technically, Ash was here because Serena had invited him to help with Pokémon training.
But under his guidance, the two of them had naturally ended up talking about this instead.
As for training?
Ash figured Serena could just invite him again next time—that would give her a reason to keep spending time with him.
So while wandering the forest, occasionally spotting wild Pokémon and copying their moves, Ash used the walk as an opportunity to explain all the different careers tied to Pokémon.
Serena listened intently.
She admired how knowledgeable Ash was, and she gave serious thought to everything he said.
"In Kalos, becoming a Pokémon Performer is a very popular dream among girls your age," Ash continued.
"A Performer works with their Pokémon to put on shows—shows that express the bond between them. Most performances involve synchronized dance and display."
"Official contests for Performers also include costume design for Pokémon and even the crafting of Poké Puffs."
"Performers are somewhat similar to Coordinators, in that both present their Pokémon on stage. But there are differences."
"Coordinators focus on showcasing a Pokémon's beauty, while Performers focus on the harmony between Trainer and Pokémon—the emotion of the stage they create together."
"Compared to Coordinators, Performers lean more into fashion and aesthetics. That's probably why the field appeals more to girls."
"There are way fewer boys in either profession, but Coordinators have been getting more popular with guys in recent years. Performers though? Still pretty much a girls' scene."
Glancing back, Ash noticed Serena was walking quietly behind him, hanging on to every word.
He smirked and teased a little.
"You're awfully quiet back there. Don't tell me you're already imagining your first show?"
By the time Ash brought up Pokémon Performers, something had clearly changed.
Serena hadn't noticed it herself yet…
But Ash did.
She started asking more and more questions—about Performers, about contests, about Poké Puffs.
Her eyes sparkled.
Her tone brightened.
That hidden ember inside her heart…
was starting to flicker.
Ash smiled, pleased.
So all that talking wasn't for nothing after all.
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T/N:
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