The Kalos Challenge (for marianna)
 

Serena, Kris, Mint, and Leaf Archer stood at the gates leading out of Vaniville Town, where all trainers who embarked on a journey through Kalos began their trip. Their family stood behind them, seeing them off, wishing them good luck. Serena was sad to leave Rhyhorn and Fletchling, but she knew Lucy and Daisy would take good care of them. It was an unspoken rule to begin your Pokemon journey with only a starter. She'd be sure to bring them home lots of new friends soon.

Daisy hugged all of the girls goodbye, as did Moon and Rosa. Kris snd Mint did their best not to look embarrassed at being glomped by the singer girls.
"Take good care of yourselves, sweets. And don't make these Kalosian people think I didn't raise you right. Understood?"

"Yeah, guys. No throwing shoes at people or having red hair-induced meltdowns, in other words." Hilda exchanged somewhat awkward hugs with the girls. At sixteen, she stood at the same height as Lucy, and hugging them required leaning over.
"You know you can come with us, right?" Serena reminded her. "Or meet up with us and join us anytime you want..."
"Yeah, I know. Now's not a great time for me though." She'd just gotten an internship under Officer Jenny in Hoenn. She couldn't just walk away from that, no matter how enticing a Pokemon journey sounded.

Rosa and Moon were going to Unova in a week, for neither of them had ever had a chance to truly begin their own Pokemon journeys. The house would feel empty without most of the little Pike Princesses, but Daisy resolved to endure - and to torture Lucy to relieve herself of some of her unused mothering instincts.

"Besides, I'm going to be an only child for the first time ever. That means I get whatever I want, whenever I want. You hear that, Daisy? I'm in charge now because I'm all you've got."
"Can you... be a little more sensitive?" Lucy requested. She hugged the girls again. "You've all got new PokeNavs, which means there's no excuse not to call us. In fact, send me a text when you meet up with your friends in Aquacorde Town. Just to let me know you made it."

"Yes, ma'am," the girls chorused, suppressing eyerolls.
"No, sweet. The good thing about your being an only child is that Lucy and i will be able to focus all our maternal attentions on you. We'll want to know where you are, where you're going, when you're going, when you're leaving and to where, who you'll be with, why you'll be with him or her, what his or parents do for a living, how much they make, married or unmarried. . . Oh, the fun we'll have together." Daisy squeezed her oldest girl. "Leaf, be a good girl. If the other girls tell you to do something for your own well-being, you must do it. Don't overfeed Pichu. Serena, don't be reckless."

"Okay," Leaf shrugged. Serena also agreed.
"Well... let's go. There's nothing special on the road to Aquacorde Town, but once we get there, everyone should be waiting by the fountain. Ready, Leaf?"
"Yes."
"Kris, Mint?"

"I was totally born ready. KALOS! Here I come!"
Kris dashed off up the road. She turned in a circle, arms outspread, and Bayleef and Combusken set up a cheer.
"Come on, gullible slowpokes. Let's go!"

"Yeah, just remember. If you don't call us, Lucy will fly herself to Kalos, hunt you down, and kick all of your asses on the spot!" Hilda called after them.
"She's not wrong," Lucy added. "Good luck!"
The four girls dashed down the road to Aquacorde Town. Serena couldn't contain her grin as she breathed in the crisp air of her home region. She'd missed Kalos dearly. And while she was going to miss her parents just as much, it felt great to be home.

"YEAH!" Kris broke into uncharacteristic singing.
"We're just some kids on a quest
To be the best of the best
Someday we're destined for power and glory

"We know we're up to t he test
There's only one way to tell this story!

"Be a hero! Be a hero! All the power is at your command!
Face your fears and show you're a hero!
The future of the world is in your hands!"