Ann
(13/03)
“Is she ready, Nurse Joy?” I asked Joy as Sparkly jumped on my arms.
“Yeah. The taste of her snack was just too strong for her. She discharged all her energy in panic when she began to faint. Resting for a few hours will be enough.”
“Thank you. I was beginning to panic thinking I wouldn’t be able to take her to the contest tomorrow.”
“Just don’t give her bad food again.”
“Sorry, I don’t know the recipe that well.” Stupy Himura leaving and not explaining how he made things.
“Competing in which rank?”
“Super.”
“And you are so young. I might have to keep an eye on you.”
“Thanks.” I said blushing before going back to my room.
I had to think things through very hard but I came to the realization that even if I liked to travel with Himura I can’t drop everything for him, no matter what. If I ever find him again I will try to know what happened and even travel with him but my dreams will not take second place to him. She was extremely lucky that she managed to win her first contest. She was prepared to lose quite a lot. Unlike gym challenges, she would still earn money if she didn’t win so she had a bigger safety net and didn’t need to constantly win and focus on actually getting better.
Ribbons were also universal for the most part. Once she reached Master Class, winning a single contest would be enough to classify her for a regional conference and even then she could compete in her current rank anywhere in the world as far as she knew.
In terms of skill, she probably had a chance in the super rank but only with Sunny. Sparkly had the talent to learn enough to win a normal rank contest in little time but anything after that would require either time or some intense training.
Well, let’s rest, I have stuff to do tomorrow.
—--
14/03
“Ladies and Gentleman. I welcome you to the contest hall of Pewter. Let 's have fun!” The announcer said from the stage. It was a man in a suit and wearing dark glasses.
There weren’t any ultra or master rank contestants so there wouldn’t be a separation on the ranks as far as presentations go. Everyone would go when they were called but the judges would make sure they were judging based on your rank. For the public, it might just seem like a big contest.
The first round was a presentation, a dance where you had to use two or more pokemon. I only have two so it will have to do.
One by one the people are being called, I choose to not stay in a waiting room with a TV so I don’t see my competition. Let’s just do the best I can.
“Ann, Sunny and Sparkly? You are next.” A staff member called.
“Let’s go!” I say to my pokemon.
“Oddish!”
“Pi!”
We walked onto the stage. For the first stage, it was expected that you would dress up. I was using my idol outfit but unlike a lot of other participants, I didn’t do anything with my pokemon. They are too small and the dance we are going to do would make anything get in the way.
image [https://i.imgur.com/ZrGR23b.jpeg]
“Good morning. My name is Ann, these are my friends, Sunny and Sparkly. I hope you enjoy our little show.” I say, greeting the judges and the public.
Soon, the music begins. A somewhat childish song about friendship. It had a simple rhythm and was the only available song that Sparkly trained to an acceptable degree.
With me in the middle, we began to dance. Simple moves, going from one side to the other, clapping, a little lip syncing to look like we were singing, the music was of a band of 3 people, moving around the stage, a little bit of acrobatics too. Sunny couldn’t really do much of that but Sparkly could jump surprisingly high and run around my body.
There isn’t anything saying that we couldn’t use moves to spice the presentation but I choose to just show the coordination between me and my pokemon. No reason to do anything that might make Sparkly feel bad about it.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The music finished, Sparkly on top of my head and Sunny on my arms. I heard a good amount of applause, I hope it was enough at least for me to go to the second round.
“Great performance, a little nice show indeed. Now, just a few questions from the judges.” The announcer said.
“Hello. I would like to know about your outfit. How did you acquire it?” The first judge, a woman asked. This was a tricky question usually asked to people to see what type of contestant they were.
“I made it with the help of my mom.” I answered honestly. My mom still isn’t really a fan of my doing this but she helped me with the outfit.
“How long have you been a trainer?” The second judge, a man, asked.
“Officially, 2 months, when I got my license but I had Sunny, my Oddish, since I was 6.”
“Thank you.” The man said.
“Lastly, me. And your little Pichu. How long are you two together?” The last judge asked, another woman.
“A month, more or less. Give or take a few days.”
“Alright. That will be everything, thanks.” The last judge said. I received a last round of applause and was sent back backstage.
To say I was a pile of nerves would be an understatement. Just before it was lunch time they announced who qualified to the second stage. After taking a look at the tvs in the waiting room I found my photo there. After lunch I would participate in the second and last stage. Contest battles.
I know I am not the best when it comes to straight battling but Sunny and I know more than enough to look good while not losing. Unless someone like Himura is on the other side, Sunny was never a battler so her strength is kind of hard to gauge.
After a light lunch, people began to be called. The normal rank had 16 finalists and the super rank had 8. Once the number got equal, the battles would intercalate until the finals.
After what felt like a long wait, it was my turn.
“Now, for the top 8 of the Super Rank, on my right side, Ann, from Saffron City and to my left, Carla, from Celadon City. The time limit is 5 minutes, if your score reaches 0 or your pokemon is unable to continue battling you lose, begin!” The announcer said.
“Spearow, I choose you.” My opponent said, sending out a Spearow.
“Sunny, I choose you.” I said, sending out Sunny.
“Sorry but I will try to make this quick. Spearow, Focus Energy.” Carla said as the Spearow got on the ground and began to focus, showing his ferocity. I saw my points go down a little but I didn’t mind.
“Leech Seed.” I simply said and Sunny launched a seed that easily hit the Spearow, growing little vines around him. It wasn’t going to stop him from moving but it was enough to make her opponent lose a few points.
“Peck! Quickly!” Carla said. Her Spearow flew and in a straight line, went straight to Sunny.
“Twirl, Poison Powder!” Sunny did as I commanded. Once the Spearow was close enough, she spun around a little and began to let her Poison Powder out. The Spearow went straight into her, the twirl reduced the damage enough, made her look good and helped the powder hit our opponent. He was now poisoned. A wave of healing also flew towards her, making her glow a little. Our opponent lost a lot of points in that exchange.
“I am not going to let that slide. Quick attack.” Carla said.
“Synthesis.” I quickly said. As the attack hit, Sunny healed and the last of my opponent’s points went away once the poison kicked in again and the leech seed healed sunny. Seems like the judges are not really fans of straight battling.
“Battle is over. Winners are Ann and Sunny.”
“Oddish!” Sunny happily said.
Carla was angry but congratulated me. We shook hands and went back to the waiting room.
It took about a little less than 30 minutes until I was called again to battle.
“To my right side, Ann, from Saffron City, to my left, Marco, from Alola. Begin!.”
“Go Quagsire!” He said as he sent out his pokemon. I should look at his presentation later. He was using traditional Alolan clothes so I am curious what exactly he did.
“Go Sunny.”
“Ice Beam!” he calmly said. He didn’t use it in his last fight, I was completely taken by surprise.
“Sunny, dodge!” I shouted but she wasn’t fast enough.”
“Ice Punch!” He said after. Sunny barely didn’t get knocked out but she got frozen. That Quagsire is way too fast. In his last fight he just shot mud shots onto his opponent, a very slow Krabby, so I didn't expect it to be able to blitz Sunny.
“I surrender.” I said, stopping the fight. No reason to make Sunny take a beating she doesn’t need. The staff handed me an Ice Heal to free her from the ice.
After congratulating my opponent I leave and go to the pokecenter to have Sunny checked.
“Just saw you. Shame you lost. You should probably also change your clothes.” The Joy said as I gave her Sunny’s pokeball. I am kind of in a panic so I didn’t even notice that I was in my idol clothes.
“Thanks.”
As I went to my room, I couldn’t help but feel sad. Being ready to lose and losing are two different things, especially in something that I know I have no chance in. I had Sunny for years and she is weaker than Pokemon Himura had for less than a month. Battle strength is not something that is necessary anymore in contests as the vast majority of the competitions don’t have battles, but she can’t help but wonder if she should focus a little more on that…
—-
??? (Someone, Somewhere)
“How many did we lose?” I asked.
“All of them.” My subordinate said.
“How did we lose everyone?”
“Readings say it was a Hunter.”
“There shouldn’t be any more Hunters alive. Are you sure?”
“It is what the readings say.”
“...Did the mission at least succeed?”
“Yes. Things can proceed as planned.”
“Good, good. Showing our hand this early would be catastrophic. Tell everyone to keep an eyes out for this possible Hunter. I will be increasing our collection.”
“Yes, commander! “