Next chapter is up! Happy reading! -Poli

Location: Ecruteak City Pokemon Center, Ecruteak City, Johto

Monday, December 14th: 4:50 P.M.

May sat on the vinyl stool at the local Pokemon Center and looked down dejectedly. She, as well as Drew, had yet again lost another contest to Solidad (May had beaten Drew in the battle round and was the runner-up). The pinkette was unbeatable!

She sighed and smoothed out her contest dress. Johto contests meant serious business, and she, as well as her fiercest rivals, weren't fooling around.

"I see you're not taking this very well," a familiar voice said, hopping up on the stool next to her and putting his arm around her shoulder, Roserade right on his heels. "It takes time, and I guess we're not used to this region as much."

"I guess you're right, Drew. Johto's really competitive. I feel like no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get this fifth ribbon. And the Johto Grand Festival is in less than a month!"

"You'll get those ribbons, May. I know you will." The green-haired teen met his eyes with her sapphire ones. "Remember what I said back in Kanto: 'You have to develop your own battling style'."

"I know that, and I have, but Solidad is too powerful. Not to mention Harley is still on our case," she said, rolling her eyes at the mentioning of the goofy purple-haired coordinator and playing with a Christmas garland that had been hung around Nurse Joy's desk.

Drew chuckled and flipped his hair, which had grown a bit longer over the past two years and had started to get in his eyes. "Well, at least that party that Professor Oak is having will cheer us up. I think we all need a break from contests," he said, stretching back on the stool nonchalantly- a little too nonchalantly, which then caused him to fall right onto the floor!

"Rose! Roserade!" The mystic green creature helped his friend off the floor while May sat there, laughing hysterically.

"That just made my day," she said, still chuckling at a flustered- and clearly aggravated- Drew.

"Uh, let's forget that happened, eh?" Drew said, flipping his hair once more.

But May didn't have time to respond, because her focus was on another person at the moment that just entered the center's doorway.

"Uh, oh- it's Harley," she whispered. "Turn around and just act natural."

They proceeded to turn around, ask Nurse Joy for a glass of water, and talk more about the Christmas party, but all of that soon turn to unsuccessfulness when Harley strolled over and put his hands on their shoulders, startling them both and causing Roserade to drop her own miniature-sized glass of water.

"So- how's my favorite 'ginger-bread cookie' doing today?" the imbecilic coordinator asked May, clearly ignoring her companion, whom he was angry at for defeating him in the "Appeal" round of the contest earlier. He glanced to the counter and saw that his pokeballs, given to Nurse Joy before, were in fine condition and were ready to be picked up.

"I guess there is an actual reason to call her that now, considering it's Christmas," Drew muttered under his breath.

May turned around and made sure no one else was listening. "Harley, I told you not to call me that in public!"

"Oh, well." His eyes then turned from goofy to menacing. "I just wanted to make it clear with you two that I am going to defeat you both in the next Johto contest, understand? This is my time to shine, and I'm not gonna be defeated by two losers."

"Hey!" the brunette exclaimed, clearly offended by Harley's outburst.

"You know what, May? Just ignore him. He's not worth it," Drew said under his breath.

"I heard that, 'Grasshead'! Just you wait, and maybe it won't be today, or tomorrow, or the next day, but I will cross paths with you again at a contest someday, and my Cacturne and I will ah-maze those judges!" Harley said, a tinge of jealousy in his eyes. He proceeded to walk out the door, before popping his head right back in for a moment.

"Oh, almost forgot! See you two at the party! Ta-ta for now!" His violet-colored hair flew behind him as he pranced away.

Eyes wider than a hoot-hoot's, May just stared at the doorway, which was free of any insane, twenty-year-old lunatic. "That…was weird."

"Tell me about it," Drew said, groaning at the thought of Harley's presence at the Christmas party.

Location: Ecruteak City Hotel, Ecruteak City, Johto

Monday, December 14th: 9:37 P.M.

A few hours later, May headed up to her hotel room on the 114th floor, slid the door key into the lock, and clicked it open.

Still disappointed about her loss against Solidad despite Drew's reassuring advice, she decided to forget about contests for a while and instead, replaced those thoughts with thoughts of the upcoming party. She slid off her contest garb and put on comfy silk pajama pants, a long-sleeved matching pajama shirt, and her "Skitty" slippers, when she heard a knock at the door.

"Just a minute," the brunette said, taking out her hair clips. She shuffled to the door and opened it, which revealed none other than a smiling Solidad and her Slowbro.

"Hi May," she said.

"Hey, Solidad- uh, come in," the fourteen-year-old coordinator replied, opening the door wider.

"Oh, thanks, if you don't mind," the pink-haired girl said, taking a seat on May's soft full bed. "I just wanted to ask you something."

"What's up?" The tension in the room was thickened by the awkwardness of the two girls as May prepared to hear what her rival was about to say next.

"Well," Solidad started, clearing her throat, "First of all, I just wanted to say that you did a really great job in the contest today. I'm sorry didn't get to say that earlier."

"Oh, well, thanks. I'm sorry I didn't get to congratulate you for winning first place earlier, either."

"That's okay. But I just wanted to remind you to keep trying and keep doing your best. You have great potential, May, and we've all seen it. I guess I saw your expression after the contest today and I felt a little bad. But…you're my friend, so I just came by to…well, you know, cheer you up a little." She smiled at her younger friend.

"Thanks, Solidad. You did cheer me up, and you know what? No matter if we both win or lose, we'll both still be friends, right?" May said.

"Right. So that brings me to that question that I was going to ask. So you know how Professor Oak is having that party on Christmas Eve, right?"

"Yeah, in fact, Drew and I were just talking about it before," the brunette said, picking up her hairbrush and brushing out her soft brown locks, listening to her friend.

"Well, if you need a lift back to Kanto, I was wondering if you'd like to come with me on the ferry. I asked Drew, too, and he's all set," Solidad continued, scooching up more on the bed.

"I'd love to, thanks so much!" May said, setting the brush down.

"Great," the pinkette replied, standing up and facing her younger rival. "We're probably going to leave around Wednesday, but I'll probably see you tomorrow anyhow. Oh, and the tickets are already purchased."

"Thanks so much again, Solidad. I was so wrapped up in contests that I totally forgot about the ride to the party," May said, giving her friend a quick hug. "Plus, I can't wait to see Ash and everyone else." She winked at Solidad and smiled amusedly. "Which reminds me- I bet Brock can't wait to see you!"

"Oh, please. We're just friends. He's one heck of a flirt, though," Solidad replied, blushing, embarrassed at May's remark. "Well, I gotta go, but I'll see you tomorrow," she said, grabbing her purse. "Come on, Slowbro," she said to her clueless pokemon, who was sitting on the floor and playing with May's Beautifly.

"Bye!" May called, shutting the door behind her as soon as they exited. She couldn't wait to relax and enjoy the Christmas season after the business of the past two years, as well as see all of her old friends again.

The brunette climbed into her bed, shut the lamp, and settled into a deep sleep, while thoughts of the party, her friends, family, contests, and- unexpectedly- Drew, were what she would dream of into the night.

Location: N.B. Town Courtyard, New Bark Town, Johto

Monday, December 14th: 12:20 P.M.

"Typhloooosion!"

With one final tackle-and-flamethrower combination, the poor trainer's Totodile was pinned to the ground with a thud.

"Totodile is unable to battle," the referee called, signaling the end of the match. "Typhlosion is the winner!"

"Aw, man," the young new trainer said, recalling the crocodile-like pokemon. "Great job, Totodile. We'll beat him next time. Thank you!" He waved to the fourteen-year-old and his Typhlosion.

"Hey Typhlosion- great job out there!" the boy said to his fire-type. "You know what I always say- 'you rock, and you rule'!" And with that, he gave an epic thumbs-up to his buddy.

"Jimmy! Hey, Jimmy!" A sweet but high-pitched voice filled the courtyard, as he was the last person out- until now.

The boy turn around to find a now breathless teenage girl, with long blue hair pulled back into pigtails.

"Hey Marina", he said. "What brings you here?"

"I wanted to show you this!" She shoved the glossy letter under his nose before letting him take it out of her hands and reading it for himself.

"Professor Oak?" he said at last to Marina, an eyebrow raised. "Isn't he that famous professor in Kanto that Professor Elm is always talking about?"

"Yeah," she replied, still panting from the long run to get to the courtyard. "Well? Didn't you read it? He's having a Christmas party- ooh I can't wait!" She jumped up and down a little, squealing.

"Whoa, there, Marina. Calm down," Jimmy said, gesturing for her to stop squealing. "That sounds great- boy, there's going to be a lot of people there, though," he continued, skimming through the letter a second time.

"I know, can you believe it? From all four regions, too!"

Before he could respond, she twirled around and spoke again. "Oh, no. What dress am I gonna wear? I hope I get one that matches my eyes," she said, batting her long eyelashes at her friend, causing him to groan.

"Jimmy? What's wrong? Aren't you excited for this?"

"I am, I'm just a little tired right now."

"You know what? Maybe we can go together!"

"W-what? I mean, what?"

"You know, me, you, go to the party together. Gee, I wonder what you would do if we got caught under some mistletoe," she wondered aloud, chuckling.

Typhlosion cracked up, causing his owner to blush a deep red and groan once more. "Errggh, Typhlosion, return!" Jimmy said, recalling the fire-type, who was still laughing hysterically as the red beam pulled him inside of the pokeball.

"Geez, I was just kidding, Jimmy," Marina said, blushing a little.

Jimmy cleared his throat and strapped Typhlosion's ball to his belt. "Never mind that. You mean, 'go together' as in, 'a couple'?"

She took her social cue and decided that this wasn't a very good time to tell him her feelings. She sighed and spoke.

"N-no…silly, I mean…just as friends," she said, not making eye contact.

"Oh…okay, then. We can catch the ferry to Kanto say…Wednesday, how does that sound?" Jimmy replied.

"Great, thanks," she replied shortly. "I have to go now," she said, taking the letter out of his hands and turning to walk out of the gate. "Come on, Little Miss," she said to her cute ghost-type, who followed right on her heels.

"Bye," he called, a tinge of concern sparkling in his eye. What was that all about? She seemed happy- a little too happy- just a minute ago, he thought to himself.

He stood alone in the bare courtyard, pondering as to why she'd left so sudden.

A/N: Ta-da! There was Chapter 3! More Contest-shippy goodness for you all! So there were your surprise guests- Jimmy and Marina! I added them mainly for all of you Questshippers out there (as I am one myself), and partly because they live in Johto (I love the Johto region), and I wanted them in the story, too! Hope you liked it; I'll probably update soon, possible in two weeks or less. Until then, catch ya later! –Poli =)