The roar of the crowd was a physical weight against the walls of the stadium. Watching from the monitors in the waiting room, I saw Aoko walk off the stage with a triumphant beam on her face. Her scores were flashing on the screen—nearly perfect across the board.
"She really stepped it up," I muttered, crossing my arms. "That Whirlpool transition was seamless." Beside me, Floette nodded solemnly, though she was mostly distracted by a bowl of complimentary honey candies on a nearby table.
The judges were already offering their feedback. Mr. Contesta was the first to speak, leaning into his microphone. "Using ice to frame the elegance of water while simultaneously showcasing the raw power of Metal Claw... it was a masterclass in contrast. A truly excellent performance."
"I like it!" Mr. Sukizo chirped, his signature catchphrase echoing through the hall.
Nurse Joy added with a warm smile, "The way Prinplup maintained the Whirlpool without letting the ice spheres collide showed a level of focus that only comes from a deep bond. It was the very definition of 'Coordination.'"
The screening continued after that. I watched a Shinx use Quick Attack to create a blur of yellow light, and a Grimer that somehow made Acid look like a neon fountain. There was a Caterpie that wove an intricate lace pattern out of String Shot and a Magby that did a high-speed circus act through hoops of Fire Spin.
But eventually, the announcer's voice called out the name I'd been waiting for.
"Next, please welcome to the stage! A coordinator who made waves in Jubilife City by winning his very first attempt—from Sandgem Town, let's welcome Julian!"
I stood up, adjusted my Aura-style vest, and took a deep breath. "Ready, Sylveon?"
"Fly-ah! (I was born ready!)"
I walked out into the blinding spotlight. The fragrance of the flowers around the stage was even stronger under the heat of the lamps. I pulled a Poké Ball from my belt—the one decorated with pink heart-shaped seals—and tossed it with a flick of my wrist.
"Sylveon, dance gracefully!"
The ball popped, and a flurry of small, shimmering hearts exploded outward. Sylveon leaped through the center of the heart-storm, landing on one paw before spinning into a delicate bow and winking at the camera. The crowd let out a collective "Aww."
"Sylveon, Mystical Fire toward the sky!"
Sylveon exhaled a swirling stream of ethereal, purple-and-red flames. The fire spiraled upward like a dragon made of embers.
"Now, Swift!"
With a snap of her ribbons, Sylveon launched a barrage of pink, glowing stars. But instead of just flying past the fire, the stars were angled perfectly. They intercepted the flames mid-air, acting as a "coating." The Fairy energy of the Swift absorbed the heat, turning the pink stars into brilliant, fiery red projectiles.
Under Sylveon's precise control, the stars didn't scatter. They pulled together, locking into place like pieces of a puzzle until a single, massive red star was spinning high above the arena, casting a warm, flickering glow over the audience.
"Incredible!" Marian, the host, shouted. "Look at that control! The Swift stars have absorbed the Mystical Fire to form a singular, giant celestial body!"
"Time for the finale! Fairy Wind!"
Sylveon stood on her hind legs, her ribbons whipping into a frenzy. A sparkling pink gale surged upward, colliding with the giant red star.
POP!
The giant star shattered. But instead of a messy explosion, the Fairy Wind acted like a centrifuge. It stripped the fire energy away, turning it into thousands of tiny, harmless orange sparks that drifted down like golden snow. Meanwhile, the pink Swift stars—now cleansed of the fire—slowly floated down toward the stands.
Because of the low velocity and the "soft" nature of the Fairy Wind, the stars and sparks didn't just disappear; they drifted right into the hands of the audience and the judges. I saw Mr. Sukizo catch a glowing pink star, his eyes widening in delight.
Sylveon landed softly next to me, her ribbons forming a heart shape behind her back as we both bowed.
"A magnificent meteor shower!" Marian cried over the thunderous applause. "Julian and Sylveon have turned the entire stadium into a part of the performance!"
Mr. Contesta was nodding as the sparks faded in his hand. "Very impressive. You showcased the natural cuteness of the Fairy-type in the opening, but the technical skill required to 'coat' Swift in Mystical Fire without detonating it is immense. And the finale gave everyone a sense of participation. Brilliant."
"A meteor shower... I like it!" Sukizo added, still looking at his empty palm where the star had been.
Nurse Joy was equally charmed. "The precision to distribute those stars to the crowd using Fairy Wind... it shows a perfect understanding of your Pokémon's power. Truly a beautiful display of the Fairy-type charm."
I gave a final wave and headed backstage, where I ran right into Aoko.
"I was sure you'd bring out Floette again!" she said, her eyes wide. "Where did you get a Sylveon? And that performance... it was way more theatrical than last time!"
"This is Sylveon's debut," I said, letting the Pokémon out of her ball to walk beside me. "She was a bit jealous of Floette's ribbon, so she's been training twice as hard. She's my second partner."
"Well, she's amazing," Aoko admitted, then puffed out her cheeks. "But don't think that means I'm scared! I've been waiting for a rematch since I lost in Jubilife. You better make it to the final round!"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," I replied with a grin.
An hour later, the tension backstage had reached a boiling point. The monitors flickered, displaying the faces of the sixteen coordinators who had made the cut. Both Aoko and I were on the list, sitting near the top of the rankings.
Marian's voice boomed through the speakers, signaling the start of the main event.
"The first round of screening is over, and our Top 16 are ready! Now, we move to the second screening: The Contest Battles!"
The crowd's roar was even louder than before.
"The rules are simple! You have five minutes. Use your moves beautifully to reduce your opponent's points. If a Pokémon is knocked out, or if the time runs out, the one with the most points wins! Let the battles begin!"
I looked at the bracket on the screen. I was in the third match. My opponent was a guy with a Scyther. Not exactly a dream matchup for a Fairy-type, but I'd been through worse in Canalave.
"Alright, Sylveon," I said, kneeling down to level with her. "The flashy stuff is over. Now we show them that you're just as good at brawling as you are at dancing."
Sylveon's ribbons tightened, her gaze turning sharp. She gave a low, determined purr. The Floaroma Ribbon was within reach, and we weren't leaving without it.