Serena (anime): Difference between revisions

'''Serena''' (Japanese: '''セレナ''' ''Serena'') is a [[Pokémon Performer]] and a former {{ashfr|traveling companion}} of {{Ash}}, who debuted in ''[[XY001|Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!]]''. Her {{pkmn2|starter|first Pokémon}} was a {{TP|Serena|Fennekin}} that she received from [[Professor Sycamore]]. In ''[[Pokémon Journeys: The Series]]'', she is revealed to have become a successful [[Pokémon Coordinator]] as well.

Sometime later, Serena was sent to [[Kanto]] against her will to attend a [[Pokémon Summer Camp]], which was hosted by {{an|Professor Oak}}. One day while at the camp, she got lost in a nearby forest and was startled by a {{p|Poliwag}}, falling over and hurting her knee. She then met [[Ash Ketchum]], who was looking for the same Poliwag and spotted Serena. Noticing her knee injury, he pulled out a handkerchief and wrapped it around her wounded knee, saying that it is a good-luck charm and that the pain would go away. However, when Serena's knee continued to hurt, Ash told her "Don't give up till it's over" and helped her up, before escorting her out of the forest. Afterwards, she returned to Kalos, bringing along the handkerchief and the memory of her meeting with Ash.

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Serena began her [[Pokémon journey]] in ''[[XY003|A Battle of Aerial Mobility!]]'' when she set off to {{an|Professor Sycamore}}'s lab in Lumiose City. Immediately upon arriving, Serena questioned the Professor about the boy on television and he confirmed that it was indeed Ash Ketchum. However, to Serena's disappointment, Ash had already left Lumiose City for the [[Santalune City]] [[Santalune Gym|Gym]] the previous day. Serena was then offered to choose her [[starter Pokémon]].

In ''[[XY004|A Shockingly Cheeky Friendship!]]'', Serena chose {{TP|Serena|Fennekin}}, received a [[Pokédex]], and started her journey. Later that day, she continued to travel with Fennekin, but didn't want to camp out for the night after seeing some wild {{p|Venipede}}. She was attacked by a wild {{p|Vespiquen}} that she mistook for a person, only for Fennekin to scare Vespiquen away. Afterward, Serena met a [[Nurse Joy]], who told her where to find the nearest Pokémon Center.

In ''[[XY006|Battling on Thin Ice!]]'', she revealed that the two of them met at the Pokémon Summer Camp when they were younger. Although Ash remembered the camp, he didn't specifically remember meeting Serena, much to her disappointment. Serena quickly regained her composure and reminded him that he once told her to never give up. Hearing these words helped Ash continue his training in order to win the rematch against Viola. During the rematch, Ash was visibly becoming overwhelmed by Viola's battling strategy, but Serena yelled at him to never give up. The inspiration that he had once given Serena was now being given to him, and these words encouraged him to continue the battle. At the end of the episode, after winning the Bug Badge, Ash asked Serena what her plans for the future were.

Serena officially began traveling with Ash and his friends in ''[[XY007|Giving Chase at the Rhyhorn Race!]]''. This was when Serena revealed why she began her journey in the first place. After seeing Ash on TV, she decided that she would begin a Pokémon journey in order to return the handkerchief he used to mend her knee injury. After she returned the handkerchief, Ash remembered their encounter and called her the "girl with the straw hat".

Later on, Serena helped teach Ash how to ride and race on a Rhyhorn when he expressed an interest in Rhyhorn racing. While doing so, Serena's opinion on Rhyhorn and Rhyhorn riding quickly changed when the Rhyhorn were very friendly towards her. Later, while she was helping Ash learn to ride, she called out similar words Serena's mother had yelled to her during her Rhyhorn riding lessons at home. At that moment, Serena realized that she had misjudged the sport of Rhyhorn racing and that perhaps she did not hate it as much as she thought. Serena expressed in the same episode that she did not dislike Rhyhorn racing but that she wanted to find a goal that she likes even more.

Serena had her first official Pokémon battle in ''[[XY039|Summer of Discovery!]]'' against {{an|Shauna}}. Shauna and her friends, {{an|Tierno}} and {{an|Trevor}}, had seen the Pokévision video that Serena filmed in Lumiose City and recognized her from it. Serena accepted Shauna's challenge, and alongside Fennekin she faced off against Shauna and her {{p|Bulbasaur}}. Despite having a type advantage, Serena was unable to win. Serena talked with Shauna throughout the episode, and learned that Shauna was aiming to be someone who could put on performances with Pokémon. Her conversations with Shauna were a catalyst in helping her realize that she was the only one of her friends that didn't have a set goal. At the end of the episode, Serena sat alone brushing Fennekin's tail and wondering what her dream was.

In ''[[XY040|Day Three Blockbusters!]]'', Shauna informed Serena about [[Pokémon Showcase]]s and told her that she was planning on becoming a [[Pokémon Performer]], and this inspired Serena to become one as well. In ''[[XY047|Dreaming a Performer's Dream!]]'', Serena witnessed her first Pokémon Showcase. She saw an exhibition performance by {{an|Aria}}, the current Kalos Queen, and also saw a {{pkmn2|wild}} {{p|Pancham}} interrupt a contestant's performance on stage. Later, outside, that same Pancham stole Ash and Clemont's belongings. Serena managed to track Pancham down and saw that he was putting on a performance with no one around. This made her realize Pancham loved performing and simply wanted to show that to everyone. With this in mind she announced to her friends she wanted to {{pkmn2|caught|catch}} it. Battling with Fennekin, she managed to weaken and successfully catch it. After that, Serena gave Pancham a pair of her favorite sunglasses.

In ''[[XY053|A Race for Home!]]'', she met up with her mother, but at first didn't dare to tell her about her intention to be a Performer. Later, Serena finally told her mother about her dream and challenged her to a Rhyhorn race in order to prove her determination under the condition that if she lost she would go back home and train to become a Rhyhorn racer. However, her mother suggested that they race on {{p|Skiddo}}, knowing that Skiddo could sense the rider's feelings. Serena managed to beat her mother in the race when the Skiddo she was riding sensed her determination, and thus her mother gave her permission to become a Pokémon Performer.

In ''[[XY059|Under the Pledging Tree!]]'', after helping her friends thwart Team Rocket's plot to crash the Pledging Tree festival and returning the stolen presents to their rightful owners, Serena gave a ribbon to Fennekin and new sunglasses to {{TP|Serena|Pancham}} in honor of the event. The group then found a present not addressed to a Pokémon, but to Serena herself. The present was a new dress for the upcoming Coumarine Showcase from her mother, left under the care of Nurse Joy. At the end of the episode, Ash gave Serena the blue ribbon he had won in a giveaway from the Coumarine Monorail staff.

In ''[[XY115|Battling at Full Volume!]]'', Serena decided to pose as Ash who had gotten a cold from training with Greninja and Pikachu, to face off against an eccentric {{tc|guitarist}} named [[Jimmy (XY115)|Jimmy]] with Ash's Pikachu against his Pikachu, Spike. Her disguise pulls through and they ended up battling well against each other before almost getting exposed by Clemont and Bonnie. As she continued the battle, Pikachu and Spike were captured by Team Rocket, by which then Jessie managed to see through her disguise to her dismay. Upon Ash's recovery, she discarded her disguise and commanded her Pokémon to simultaneously attack Team Rocket, who were eventually sent blasting off by Pikachu and Spike in the end. She apologized to Jimmy for deceiving him and invited him to join her and the others for lunch.

In ''[[XY135|Rocking Kalos Defenses!]]'', she called Ash using the device Clemont gave them, asking him to find Clemont inside the gym. She, along with Mairin, Steven and Sycamore started investigating the research conducted by Team Flare. Before Steven could explain what he found, the [[Giant Rock]] was activated and absorbed Chespie, causing the building to collapse. The four of them tailed the Giant Rock towards [[Anistar City]] while Serena informed Ash, Alain, Clemont, Blaziken Mask and Bonnie about the current situation of Chespie. She, along with Sycamore and Steven then fought the Giant Rock using Braixen, Garchomp and Metagross. Her Braixen was thrown off Metagross by some of the vines from the Giant Rock, but Alain's Charizard managed to save her in time. After Ash managed to get Greninja launch a {{m|Water Shuriken}} at Chespie's location in the Giant Rock, she assisted Steven, Sycamore and Alain to fight their way through, but none of their attacks were able to hold it off.

In ''[[XY136|Forming a More Perfect Union!]]'', after all the Gym Leaders, including [[Diantha]], arrived to help Ash and his friends, Serena stayed behind to protect Mairin and Bonnie while the rest used their Pokémon's abilities to fight their way through the Giant Rock. A few large vines surrounded the three of them but Serena managed to have Braixen, Pancham and Sylveon to prevent them from getting hurt. Serena then rushed to protect Mairin as a vine was heading towards her direction, but was saved by Ash and Alain managing to rescue Chespie in time. All of them then tried to attack the Giant Rock but ended up injuring themselves instead. Squishy and Z2 managed to transform into the Complete Forme and battled the Giant Rock and defeat [[Lysandre]]. Serena then reunites with Ash, Clemont and Bonnie and watches Bonnie say goodbye to Squishy as it leaves along with Z2.

In ''[[XY138|The First Day of the Rest of Your Life!]]'', Serena saw on the news that the residents of Lumiose City were still recovering from injuries and decided to ask Professor Sycamore to help host a Pokémon Showcase event. Serena, Shauna, and even Jessilee put up a collaboration performance which made the residents smile and enjoy themselves. By witnessing how everyone started dancing along and smiling, Serena realized how much she actually loves performing and wants to do more. The next day, after saying goodbye to her mother, Ash asked Serena for a battle after seeing her lost in thoughts. Serena agreed as Ash said by battling, she would be able to decide what's next for her. During the battle, Serena was able to work well with Braixen and use her techniques well against Ash's Pikachu. Ash called off the battle and encouraged Serena that she always has her Pokémon by her side and he would be rooting for her. After the battle, Serena called Palermo, making her final answer to reject Palermo's offer. Serena told her seeing how everyone was smiling during her performance earlier that made her want to travel more and make more people smile like Aria and improve her skills. Palermo advised her to compete in [[Pokémon Contest]]s in [[Hoenn]] and Serena happily agreed. After that, she announced to the group that she will be going to visit other regions to further develop her skills as a Performer, starting with Hoenn.

In ''[[XY139|Facing the Needs of the Many!]]'', just before she, Ash, and the others were heading back to the Lumiose airport, a big plant pops up. After Xerosic captures Clemont and when the van drives away, Ash-Greninja jumps in front of the van, which frightens Serena. Later, Serena goes with Ash and Bonnie to rescue Clemont by jumping from the top of a cliff and then getting rescued by Ash-Greninja's tongue. After Clemont gets rescued and Xerosic arrested, she, along with the others bid farewell to Ash's Greninja, which goes along with Squishy and Z2 to find the negative energy where those roots were spawning.

In ''[[XY140|Till We Compete Again!]]'', Serena officially left the group to follow Palermo's advice and travel the Hoenn region. At the airport, Serena told Ash she vowed to become better, especially for him the next time they met. She then leaned towards him, and the scene heavily implies that she gave him a kiss on the lips, with Clemont, Bonnie, Pikachu, and Dedenne all shocked and Ash left momentarily stunned. Serena then thanked him for the journey and his guidance before leaving. She was last seen happily arriving in Hoenn.

In the time since she started traveling alone, Serena became a rising star in [[Hoenn]] and garnered a lot of local attention in [[Lilycove City]]. She also became friends with Hoenn's top contest idol, [[Lisia]], and helped her to liven up the local Contests.

Serena reappeared in ''[[JN105|Reuniting for the First Time!]]'', where she met [[Chloe]] and her {{TP|Chloe|Eevee}}. After giving her some suggestions for her future and encouraging her to take part in a Pokémon Contest Spectacular, Serena participated in the event as well. While Chloe participated in the {{OBP|Rank|Contest|Normal Rank}} Contest Spectacular, Serena took part in the Master Rank competition, tying for first place with Lisia. As Chloe was departing at the docks, Serena revealed that Lisia approached her after the Contest to ask if she wanted to team up with her and form an idol duo together, to which Serena is unsure about as of yet. Serena also briefly met [[Goh]] and reunited with Ash as they boarded their boat; the two promised to keep cheering for each other as they parted ways again, all while Serena waved goodbye and waited at the docks while watching Ash depart.

Serena is a kind and polite girl, but she can also be openly rebellious towards her [[mother]], {{kal|Grace}}. In ''[[XY001|Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!]]'', she refused to wake up when Grace ordered her to, and gave a sassy response to her mother's call to watch the news. This tumultuous relationship was best demonstrated when Grace made her practice {{p|Rhyhorn}} riding, an activity Serena had hated doing. However, their relationship is also very loving as shown in later episodes. Although shown to have a strong will, Serena can be sensitive and insecure at times as seen in ''[[XY064|Battling with Elegance and a Big Smile!]]''. When she was frustrated with her Pokémon, she lashes out when at her limit and leaves to cool off in shame. She is also shown to lose her composure when pushed to a wall, becoming unsure of herself. Despite this however, Serena manages to pick herself back up by reminding herself to not give up, bringing up her confidence and also encouraging her Pokémon to do their best despite the odds. This is shown when two of [[Serena's Braixen|her]] [[Serena's Sylveon|Pokémon]] evolve from responding to her resolve. While battling isn't her primary focus, Serena has shown herself to be a competent battler, at least partially due to picking up Ash's battling style after seeing him battle countless times.

Serena was uncertain what paths or career to pursue in life and expressed little ambition towards becoming a full-time [[Pokémon Trainer]] in the early stages of her journey. However, in ''[[XY039|Summer of Discovery!]]'', she began to think that not having an established goal was a problem for her future as a Trainer. During her time in the [[Pokémon Summer Camp]], she began seriously considering what she wanted to do with herself and {{cat|Serena's Pokémon|her Pokémon}} after seeing how passionate the Trainers around her were. It was in ''[[XY047|Dreaming a Performer's Dream!]]'' that she decided that her goal was to be a [[Pokémon Performer]] and she has been diligently training both herself and her Pokémon ever since. After losing her first [[Pokémon Showcase]], Serena strengthened her resolve to do even better, and to symbolize this she cut her hair short.

Unlike with {{an|Dawn}}, Serena chose to not follow in her mother's footsteps as a Rhyhorn racer. However, she is shown to be a competent Rhyhorn racer and is quite knowledgeable about them. She possesses a unique charm when it comes to Rhyhorn, possibly due to her upbringing, as nearly all of those that she encounters gravitate towards her playfully as seen in ''[[XY007|Giving Chase at the Rhyhorn Race!]]'' and ''[[XY109|Master Class Choices!]]''. Due to her mother's training, she is able to easily tame Rhyhorn and manage them well. Additionally because of those skills, she is also able to calmly guide a Mamoswine through a steep hill in ''[[XY083|Over the Mountain of Snow!]]''.

Serena has been shown to have a phobia of the supernatural. When {{ashfr|the group}} entered an abandoned house where a {{pkmn2|wild}} {{p|Espurr}} was staying in ''[[XY014|Seeking Shelter From the Storm!]]'', she would assume the worst or that a supernatural being was in play whenever the group was spooked by anything. Likewise, in ''[[XY038|Forging Forest Friendships!]]'', when {{Ash}} had been kidnapped by a {{p|Trevenant}}, she became worried that Ash would be eaten after {{an|Clemont}} told her the rumors surrounding the forest. This is seen again in ''[[XY072|Scary Hospitality!]]''. In such occasions, she often speaks without thinking, continually making assumptions about the scary houses that made Ash or Clemont cringe, and she would promptly cover her mouth when she realized what she had said. She has also been shown to be afraid of crossing unstable bridges across high ravines.

Serena seems to have a sisterly bond with {{an|Bonnie}}, as she is shown caring for her similar to the way Clemont does, such as protecting her in dangerous situations, comforting her, and cheering her up when she is sad. She also allows her to help her with various tasks, such as baking and grooming. Serena also gets along pretty well with Clemont, and they are normally seen taking care of the table together during meal times, with Clemont making the main dishes while Serena provides dessert. However, when it comes to his inventions, Serena has shown both a bit of marvel as well as caution, due to the usual result being an explosion. Serena quickly became very good friends with [[Chloe]] after meeting her, and appears to empathize with her after hearing her uncertainness on what goal to pursue in life.

Serena has shown a deep and loving affection for Ash, having remembered how he found her when she was lost and alone in a forest when she was young, and how he kindly guided her out. After several years, she still recognized him after seeing him on [[television]]. After picking her [[starter Pokémon]] and starting her {{pkmn|journey}}, her first order of business was to meet up with him to return the handkerchief he once used to bandage her leg at the Pokémon Summer Camp all those years ago. Ash proved to be a source of inspiration for her with his never-give-up attitude and love for Pokémon, to the point that she still recites the motivational phrases he taught her to motivate herself and others.

Serena frequently cares for her Pokémon's appearance as seen in ''[[XY095|Love Strikes! Eevee, Yikes!]]'', by grooming their coats with her brush. She also {{pkmn|training|trains}} her Pokémon to execute their [[move]]s creatively for their routines in the Freestyle Performances for [[Pokémon Showcase]]s. While Serena does not regularly participate in {{pkmn|battle}}s, her Pokémon are somewhat skilled in battles against other Trainers as seen in ''[[XY090|Tag Team Battle Inspiration!]]''. Her {{TP|Serena|Delphox}} is usually use in battle as her strongest Pokémon, but she has used her in both Pokémon Showcases and Contests.

* Serena is the only one of Ash's friends to have met him prior to the [[EP001|beginning of the series]].

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