XY062: A Showcase Debut!

is the 12th episode of Pokémon the Series: XY Kalos Quest.
==Synopsis==
It’s time for Serena’s Pokémon Showcase debut in Coumarine City, and her friend and rival Shauna is also registered to compete! First up is the Theme Performance in Pokémon Styling, which is like a Pokémon fashion show. The performers are divided into groups, and only one from each group gets to move on to the next round.
Shauna wins her group easily, beating out Jessilee (Team Rocket’s Jessie in disguise). In Serena’s group, things seem to be great...until Fennekin trips over its ribbon while walking the runway. This knocks them out of contention, and they have to sadly watch the rest of the competition from the wings. Shauna delivers an amazing Freestyle Performance with her Bulbasaur and Flabébé, winning the Showcase and her first Princess Key!
Serena takes some time to grieve, but realizes that this is just the first step on the road to her dream. She decides that a change is in order, and rejoins her friends with a new hairstyle and a new outfit!
Meanwhile, Ash and Clemont have been discussing the next stop on their journey...because it’s time for the two of them to face off at the Lumiose Gym!
==Episode plot==
On the day of her Showcase, Serena presents her new dress to her friends. They arrive to the dome where the Showcase will take place and meet up with Shauna. Shauna admits she won't lag behind Serena and lets her know they are rivals from this day, which Serena gladly accepts. They go inside and see a large stage, making Shauna and Serena a bit nervous. Jessie, however, has prepared herself for the Showcase as well, naming herself Jessiline, entering the dome with James and Meowth. Serena and Shauna enter the dressing room and see many Performers. Jessiline startles them, saying they are in her way and passes through. Meanwhile, a woman drops off Palermo, who is not pleased she has to be at the dome. Reporters hound Palermo, who came here as a judge for the Showcases, but she ignores them all.
Among the audience, Jessie's and Serena's friends await the start of the Showcase. Suddenly, Monsieur Pierre appears as the commentator of the Showcases, while Palermo feels there won't be someone like Aria. While Serena prepares herself, Ash notices Pierre's Klefki, who gives its master the Princess Key, an award for winning the Showcase. Suddenly, Shauna, as well as Jessiline and Alouette, are called for the Performance. Shauna leaves, with Serena wishing her luck. Pierre explains one who holds three Princess Keys can advance to Master Class and the winner of the Master Class will gain the title of Kalos Queen. Pierre explains three Performers will show off their Pokémon, with today's theme being styling. Jessie, Shauna and Armelle appear and Pierre tells the winner is the one who styles their Pokémon as best as they can under ten minutes, but only one will go to next round.
Being in the places, the Performers start. As Shauna decorates Bulbasaur, Alouette trims Furfrou and Jessiline paints her Pumpkaboo. Time is up and first Alouette presents her Furfrou with the Pharaoh Trim. Next is Shauna, whose Bulbasaur is decorated with lots of flowers, looking like a bouquet. Jessie comes out with Pumpkaboo, dressed as a monster, as Jessie announces it is like "the Beauty and the Beast". The audience releases the PokéLumes, which release light balls, its color depending on Performer the person liked most. Jessiline is surprised she didn't get any votes, and once counted, Shauna passes to next round. Jessie is angry and leaves. James and Meowth afraid of Jessie's wrath that she lost this round.
While some performances go underway, Shauna notices Serena is getting tense, so she tells her that she'll do fine. Soon, Serena is called, along with Blanche and Clarice. Bonnie cheers on Serena to do her best, while Clemont is feeling nervous watching this. Serena sees Fennekin and tells herself and Fennekin to start this dream. The performance starts, as Serena immediately chooses a ribbon and a hat for Fennekin, since they were prepared for this. She is determined to give her best. Time is out and the first ones are Blanche, with her Meowstic, who is decorated with jewelry; Next is Clarice, whose Fletchling leaves sparkles. Last is Serena, who shows Fennekin. Serena admits to Fennekin that she's having fun. Suddenly, Fennekin trips over her own ribbon and falls down on the middle of the stage shocking the heroes. Serena rushes to Fennekin and holds it tenderly as the crowd silently watches on. She comes in third while Blanche advances to the next round.
Back in the dressing room, Serena acknowledges that she made Fennekin's ribbon too long and didn't take into account that it needed to walk. Shauna still thinks Serena did good presenting Fennekin. Serena thanks her and goes to change her clothes, telling her she'll be rooting for her in the second round. Pierre announces the free performances, where Performers can use up to six Pokémon to show them off. On the balcony, Serena watches the performers, wordlessly lamenting that she is not among them. After some performances, Shauna appears with her Bulbasaur and Flabébé. Flabébé uses Fairy Wind, followed with Bulbasaur's Petal Dance. Bonnie thinks she is like a fairy. Using Solar Beam, Bulbasaur clears off the Fairy Wind, ending her performance. Later, the performances are over and the audience decides the winner: With the most votes, Shauna is the winner and receives her first Princess Key. Palermo leaves, claiming she watched the whole performance and nothing interests her at all.
Outside, everyone congratulates Shauna, who asks them not to tell Tierno or Trevor as she wants to tell them herself so she can see their shocked faces. Serena is determined to go after more Showcases. Shauna leaves, bidding farewell to all of them. As they go to the Pokémon Center, Clemont suspects Serena blames herself for this failure and expresses concern about whether or not she will be okay. Ash expresses his belief that she in fact will, and adds that Serena is strong. Jessie, however, thinks these people have no taste. Meowth volunteers to join up with Jessie. With that, Team Rocket aims to conquer Kalos and make Jessie the Queen. At the Center, Ash is reminded he needs to pursue the fifth badge. Clemont remembers his promise and they decide to go to Lumiose City and have the Gym Battle. During the night, Palermo is displeased there was nobody that clicked in the performance.
Early in the morning, Serena and her Pokémon are at the docks. Serena relives Fennekin's fall over again and remembers how it was because the ribbon was too long. Unable to contain her bottled up feelings any longer, after keeping them in for an entire day, she breaks down in tears and begins to cry hysterically. Desperate to cheer her up, Fennekin and Pancham jump onto her arms. Serena stops crying and apologizes to her Pokémon, telling them their loss was her fault. She tells them she never felt like this before: now she knows what it's like to be a contender and to stand at the starting line of her dream. She opens her bag, takes out her fashion case and pulls out a pair of scissors before walking to the edge of the dock. Putting the scissors to her hair, she closes her eyes and recalls all the events that led up to this moment and point in time. As the sun rises on a new day, Serena suddenly open her eyes as strands of her hair are shown falling away as the person she used to be is laid to rest... and the person she will now be from this point onward is born. During all this, she is seen by Palermo as her car pulls away. Her assistant asks her if she found anything. Palermo smiles, lowers her glasses and cryptically replies that it's a secret.
Later in the morning, Ash, Clemont and Bonnie are packing their bags as they notice Serena's absence and wonder where she is because they are getting ready to leave soon. Ash offers to go look for Serena but before he does she suddenly appears with a new hairstyle and outfit, a light pink dress with a red waistcoat. Serena apologizes to Ash, Bonnie and Clemont for being late then asked what they think of her new look. The gang's reactions are mixed as Clemont is surprised and asks what happened, while Bonnie is upset because she liked her long hair. Serena tells the two siblings that it was time for a change and thinks it looks cute. Ash tells Serena that her new look is awesome, before noticing the ribbon he gave her as a present being worn on her dress. Fully rebounded from her loss, Serena is the first one out of the Pokémon Center, playfully telling the others she'll race them. Now a new contender, she leaves Coumarine City a changed person, understanding what it feels like to lose a performance.
==Debuts==
===Character===
*Palermo
*Alouette
*Blanche
*Clarice
*Elma
===Pokémon===
*Shauna's Flabébé
==Trivia==
*"Pokémon Quiz": Klefki (JP)
*"Who's that Pokémon?" Klefki (US)
*Serena's wardrobe change is a reference to the player customization feature in the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon and Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! games.
*Serena is the third companion to lament losing her first endeavor at her goal: Before her, May and Dawn both went through the same experience when they both lost a Pokémon Contest, being the first and second companions to do so.
**Like Ash losing to Ritchie in "Friend and Foe Alike", Serena also receives a devastating loss.
*This episode was titled Showcase, Debut! in Cartoon Network's listing for it.
===Mistakes===
*During the montage showing the remaining Performers' performances, there was a segment featuring a Swirlix, a Sylveon, and a Swanna. When they are being judged to see who would move on, Swirlix is standing to the left, Sylveon is in the middle, and Swanna is to the right. When the Performer with the Sylveon is revealed to have won, Swirlix and Swanna (along with their Trainers) swap places.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes featuring Pokémon Showcases
Category:Episodes focusing on Serena
Category:Episodes focusing on Jessie
Category:Episodes focusing on Shauna