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Time for the epic battles, winner announcement, and Brendan's explanation. o.o

Disclaimer: I do not own May's cluelessness and Drew's tendency to be jealous. =w=

Arranged For Love

{Chapter 4}

"The progressing coordinators will now take a short break," Vivian announces. "After ten minutes, the contest will resume as planned. Thank you for your patience."

We file off of the stage, our emotions ranging from excitement to disappointment. I wear an expression of sheer delight. The eliminated competitors sulk out of the building, too upset to watch the rest of the contest. There are only eight of us left, creating an awkward atmosphere for the unacquainted coordinators.

"Nervous, March?" Drew asks, positioning himself next to me. He seems to ignore the fact that everyone is watching us; instead, he gets unusually close to me.

"It seems like you're the nervous one," I remark slyly. "I placed second by only 0.1."

"That was a lucky appeal," he counters. "The people of Mauville adore fire."

"They adore you," I snap, crossing my arms. "Otherwise, I would have gotten first place."

"You adore me," Drew says coolly, flipping his hair. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be engaged."

"It was arranged!" I argue, throwing my hands out in mock frustration. "I wouldn't have agreed."

"Yes you-" Drew begins.

"Shut up and get married already!" Julie shouts at us. Her expression radiates annoyance and irritation. We are stunned; neither of us have anticipated her outburst. "You two already bicker like a married couple, so why not speed up your wedding?"

"That's enough," Vivian chides, returning to the front of the room. "Fortunately, Swampert's earthquake didn't screw up as much as we thought. Also, we managed to generate your opponents."

She waves her hand towards a screen. We turn, eager and anxious to see who we will be facing. Fortunately, the first round is in my favor- I am against a coordinator who had used a Sunflora in the previous round. Drew, Brendan, and Julie are against the three other competitors.

I am confident that I will win this match.

"The first battle will feature May's Blaziken and Caitlin's Sunflora. The rest of you are allowed to rest in this room and watch the match. The four winners from this round will continue on to the second round." Vivian reminds us. "Good luck!"

She proceeds to lead Caitlin and I out of the waiting room. Once again, we are greeted with applause and blinding light as we step onto our designated platforms. As we prepare for the battle, Vivian begins her usual announcement. "The secondary round consists of contest battles. Our coordinators will have five minutes to maintain their points and try to deal damage on their opponent's Pokemon."

We nod in understanding, impatient for the match to begin. "Without further ado, let's begin!"

"Blaziken, take the stage!" I order, throwing the Pokeball into the air. Blaziken pops out, prepared to follow my instructions. On the other side of the stage, Caitlin mirrors my command.

"Blaziken, start off by using ember!" I say enthusiastically. Tiny embers shoot out of Blaziken's mouth, targeting the opposing Sunflora. At the last second, Sunflora dodges, barely avoiding the attack.

"Sunny day!" Caitlin cries, seeing her type disadvantage. Her voice wavers as she continues, "Use SolarBeam afterwards!"

"Counter by using Blaze Kick!" Blaziken nods, charging up its fire energy for a powerful kick. When it is ready, it collides with the SolarBeam, absorbing its power while moving forward. The result is a super effective impact that scorches Sunflora's petals and significantly lowers Caitlin's points.

"While sunny day does make SolarBeam easy to use, it also makes fire attacks even more powerful," Vivian informs the crowd. "With that powerful kick, Blaziken was able to propel itself through the SolarBeam without taking any damage!"

"Ingrain," Caitlin demands, her voice becoming urgent. "Use petal dance to keep Blaziken away!"

She wants Sunflora to heal, I realize. I have to hurry. Right now, Sunflora is absorbing health from the ground. It's not exactly evasive...

"Use quick attack to avoid the petals," I command. "When you're close enough, use overheat!"

"Blaze," Blaziken responds, rushing past the flurry of petals that are approaching it. At an acceptable distance, Blaziken turns crimson, ready to release the energy that is accumulating in its body.

"SolarBeam!" Caitlin shrieks, realizing her Pokemon's vulnerability to the attack. Despite her concern, Sunflora looks much more healthier after it uses Ingrain- its petals have returned to their original appearance and its leaves are glinting in a renewed green. After hastily collecting light, the Pokemon releases the beam with ease.

The attack is slightly late. When the beam is within inches from Blaziken's body, Blaziken blasts the heat wave in Sunflora's direction, consuming it completely. The impact blows Sunflora from the ground, knocking it out in a matter of seconds. I take my Pokeball and recall Blaziken, who is eager for a rest after performing the excruciating move.

"You did well," Caitlin murmurs wistfully as she withdraws her fainted Pokemon.

"May Maple will now participate in the second stage of the battle round," Vivian announces. "The second battle will follow up shortly. Let's praise our wonderful competitors!"

The crowd cheers as Caitlin and I retreat to the waiting room. My ears relax, finally saved from the audience's incessant uproar. After Caitlin storms out of the building, I breathe a sigh of relief. I'm moving on to the next round.

After ten minutes, the progressing coordinators are decided. The battles after mine are quick and almost painless- Drew, Julia, and Brendan manage to knock out their opponents in less than three minutes. After his battle is over, Drew approaches me uncomfortably.

"Listen, if we're against each other..." He trails off, unsure of what to say next. After a brief pause, he runs his fingers through his hair and continues his statement. "Well, as I said before, I'm not going easy on you. We're still rivals, engaged or not."

"This is a contest, after all," I agree, nodding to show my approval.

"I'm glad you understand," Drew smirks and pats my head.

Without realizing it, my gaze has drifted towards Brendan. I haven't talked to him since last night's dinner, since I am still wondering where I stand with him. After the kiss, we float in midair, unsure of our positions. After a few seconds, he acknowledges my glance by giving me a genuine smile.

"Back off, Birch," Drew growls, throwing his arm in front of my body. Somehow, he has managed to become irritated once again. "Stay away from her."

"I'm sorry. Apparently, I am not allowed to smile at anyone," Brendan retorts, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "In case you've forgotten, May is my childhood friend. I should at least be able to talk to her."

"Everyone, calm down," Vivian scolds as she walks up to the front of the room. "You're participating in a competition, so please control yourselves. Your opponents have now been decided."

Our eyes travel to the screen without hesitation. I locate my picture and slowly connect the line to the other person.

I am against Drew.

*.~.*.~.*

"Five minutes on the clock," Vivian reminds us as she thrusts her hand in the air. "Begin!"

"Blaziken, take the stage!" I shout enthusiastically, twirling dramatically before I officially release my Pokemon.

Drew rolls his eyes and flips his hair, receiving incredible attention from the crowd's fangirls. "Flygon, come on out and kick May's butt!"

"That's Drew's new catch phrase?" I wonder aloud. "He's undoubtedly mean. Try punishing his Pokemon by using Sky Uppercut!"

"May can't take a joke," Drew sighs in response, making no move to assist his Pokemon. When Blaziken is only a few meters away, he finally recovers. "Flygon, fly around Blaziken and use DragonBreath!"

"Does Drew really think I'm that stupid?" I laugh. "Blaziken, use Overheat."

While Flygon attempts to fire DragonBreath, Blaziken begins storing its energy and absorbs the impact. I flinch as it takes a few hits, corresponding with my decreasing amount of points. After a few more seconds, Blaziken appears to be ready.

"Flygon, get out of there!" Drew orders, noticing my strategy. "Use sand attack to propel yourself forward!"

I smile, knowing that the distance between Flygon and Blaziken is enough for the attack to work. The heat wave consumes the stage, scorching with ravenous flames that are determined to reach my opponent. To my surprise, Flygon barely flinches. Instead, Blaziken has taken some damage- it is twisting uncomfortably.

"Flygon is a dual type," Drew points out. "Fire attacks aren't going to work as much as you want them to."

I turn my attention back to Blaziken. Sand is clinging to its face, making it stumble and fall over. My points drop once more, making me scowl in annoyance.

"It's not over yet," I mutter stubbornly. "Blaziken, hang in there! Use Fire Spin and surround yourself with it!"

"Wow. I think my fiancee is a complete idiot," Drew mocks from the other side of the stage. "Are you trying to lose?"

While Drew is teasing me, the sand from Blaziken's face is swept off by the fire. The attack subsides quickly, leaving my Pokemon fully refreshed.

"Activating Blaze, are we?" Drew remarks. "Flygon, use Sand Tomb!"

"Dodge!" I command frantically. Blaziken steps aside, trying its best to avoid the attack. However, the sand simply pursuits it, unfazed by its hasty attempt to dodge. Once Blaziken is inside the vortex, it repetitively takes damage from the persistent grains of sand.

"Quick attack!" I order, deciding that I will help Blaziken outrun the attack. To my surprise, the sand continues to move along with it, stubbornly eager to inflict damage.

"I hate to do this, love," Drew says regretfully. "Flygon, finish this with DragonBreath!"

Flygon obeys, performing its move with additional agility and accuracy. The attack hits Blaziken, causing it to fall over from the impact. When the sand clears, the stage reveals my fainted Pokemon.

I swallow, preventing the existence of the tears that threaten to form. "B-Blaziken, return."

"Drew Hayden will now participate in the final round," Vivian announces. "Next, we have Brendan against Julia..."

I bow for the crowd and retreat into the waiting room, not waiting to be dismissed. I gasp for air once I reach it, channeling my frustration into every step that I take. The room is vacant, so no one will see me break down.

I am wrong.

"May, calm yourself," Drew pants after he has caught up to me. "We knew that there had to be a winner between us, right? There aren't two ribbons, you know."

"I know," I whisper. "I'm just disappointed. You won again."

"You came close," he offers. "You only had the type disadvantage."

"Blaziken only attacked Flygon once," I sigh, burying my head in my hands. "It was incapable of doing anything else, so that was my fault."

"That's what Sand Attack is for, isn't it?" he counters, unusually forceful. "It wasn't your fault. That reaction was intended, anyways. You shouldn't blame it on yourself."

"Well, congratulations, Drew. You ended up beating me again," I mutter, trying my best not to feel vengeful.

"I'm also sad for your loss," he continues, extracting my hands from my face. "When you're sad, I'm also sad."

The screen flashes, showing an elated crowd. Drew winces as he observes the current battle. "It looks like I'm against Brendan."

"The battle isn't over yet," I argue, noticing that Luxray is still standing. "Julie might have a chance."

Instead, Drew simply stares at me. "Luxray is an electric Pokemon. On the other hand, Swampert is also a ground type, making it completely resistant to electrical moves."

"Oh," I murmur, wiping my tears away with the back of my hand. "Our battle totally ruined my common sense."

"That's fine. I'll forgive you this time," he says, smirking. "Are you stable enough to watch the last battle?"

I nod slightly, feeling strong again. "I guess."

"You should sit backstage," Drew suggests. "Once this contest is officially over, we can go eat a late lunch. The transition will be faster."

"Okay," I agree, biting my lip. After a moment of hesitation, I look up to him. "Good luck, Drew- you'll need it. Brendan is a talented trainer."

Drew doesn't reply; he continues walking towards Vivian, eager to be guided towards his designated platform. I stop at the entrance of the stage, standing at an angle so that I will have a good view of the battle.

"Drew Hayden will be against Brendan Birch," Vivian reminds us as she takes Drew's hand and leads him towards the left side of the stage. "This battle seems to be evenly matched. Both Flygon and Swampert are dual types, each sharing ground-type characteristics. Once both contestants are ready, we will begin."

I watch Drew and Brendan give her a nod simultaneously. "This is the last battle of the Mauville City Pokemon Contest. Whoever wins this will take home the ribbon, progressing in their goal to enter the Hoenn Grand Festival. Without further ado, let the battle start!"

"Flygon, you're up!" Drew calls, summoning his Pokemon from its capsule. Flygon appears quickly, allowing itself to perform its traditional Pokemon cry. It floats cautiously, ready to face its opponent.

"Swampert, I choose you!" Brendan says, tossing his Pokeball over his shoulder. He feigns an expression of boredom, causing the crowd to go wild at his cool demeanor. Swampert appears, returning Flygon's cry in a hostile manner.

"DragonBreath!" Drew commands, deciding to take the first move. He watches as the beam quickly approaches the vulnerable water Pokemon.

Brendan waits patiently before executing his move. "No problem. Counter by using Water Pulse!"

Swampert opens its mouth, drawing water from its surroundings. Before the DragonBreath is able to hit it, the Pokemon swiftly slides to the left and fires its attack at the unsuspecting Flygon.

Drew's points slide down slightly, causing him to frown with disappointment and irritation. Flygon takes the normal amount of damage from water-type moves, so he couldn't use types as an advantage.

"Swampert, use Surf," Brendan commands. "Afterwards, fire Mud Shot at the ground!"

In a matter of seconds, Swampert has twisted the stage into a section of shallow water. It proceeds to generate a stream of mud, which piles up to expand the water on Flygon's side.

"Flygon, use Fly to get out of there!" Drew shouts. "While Swampert is preoccupied, use Hyper Beam!"

Flygon senses Drew's urgency, so it flies in the air evasively, accumulating energy. With an impressive roar, it shoots the power at Swampert, who continues to fire Mud Shot.

Brendan's points have decreased incredibly, but he doesn't flinch. His Pokemon continues to fire the attack, creating a mud wall between the two Pokemon.

Flygon falls to the ground, exhausted. The Hyper Beam has obviously drained its energy for a few seconds; Drew watches Brendan in anticipation. He is winning, but Brendan is evidently planning something.

Finally, Brendan speaks. "Swampert, use Dive!"

The Pokemon jumps over the mud wall, somersaulting and landing in the water. From underneath Flygon, it emerges and strikes without mercy. Drew's points take the same hit, causing him to flinch.

"It appears that Brendan has strategically trapped Flygon," Vivian observes. "By creating the mud wall and trapping Flygon on one side of the stage, there's almost no chance for escape!"

"Flygon, use Faint Attack!" Drew pleads, urgent now. It seems that he has finally thrown away his pride during this desperate situation. "Use Crunch to secure the hit!"

"Muddy Water," Brendan says calmly. He grins at Swampert as it creates a muddy wave and slams it onto Flygon.

I wait for the ordered Faint Attack, but it never comes. Instead, the wave's impact has thrown Flygon off balance, making it lose points for missing.

The balance of points isn't necessary. When the mud disintegrates and the water evaporates into nothing, Flygon is against the side of the stage, unable to battle.

"Congratulations, Brendan Birch! You are Mauville City's contest winner. Please step forward and accept this ribbon," Vivian exclaims. She walks over to the judges, who are still clapping from the magnificent battle.

It's okay, Drew. I mentally prepare a speech that is intended to soothe him. Brendan's a trainer- battling is his expertise. Don't feel upset. We'll travel and participate in a lot of contests together, eventually winning entry to the Grand Festival. This is only one contest.

Wistfully, I examine the ribbons that I have collected so far. There are plenty of opportunities ahead of me. Besides, I only need one more to complete my set.

"Excuse me?" Vivian looks incredibly flustered, while the crowd fidgets in confusion. "I don't think that's-"

"There's no rule for it," Brendan argues. "She works hard and deserves to enter the Grand Festival."

"There is no rule for it," Nurse Joy confirms after the silence has become uncomfortable. "He is able to do whatever he wants with this ribbon."

I don't understand. People in the crowd are staring at me, but I'm not the winner.

Drew gazes at me, his eyes cold and void of emotion.

I don't understand this at all.

Brendan has walked up to me, ignoring the stares that sting him. Instead, he smiles at me.

He places his new ribbon in my case.

*.~.*.~.*

"Are you unhappy?" Brendan asks, tagging along behind me. I have rushed out of the Contest Hall, stunned and humiliated. Although I am allowed to enter the Grand Festival, I don't feel accomplished at all.

"I didn't earn it," I whimper, pausing so that he can catch up. "It's yours."

"Brendan," someone growls, pulling him backwards. His chartreuse hair blows in the wind, but he makes no attempt to fix it. He glares at Brendan, completely outraged. Drew.

"Great battle," Brendan says lightly. "I've had that strategy for a while, so please don't be up-"

"I could care less about the battle," Drew snaps. He pushes me aside, leaving me breathless as I watch them. "What are you planning to do?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Brendan replies, paling slightly. He struggles in Drew's grip. "I just thought she deserved the ribbon more than I did."

"You kissed her last night. We're both aware," Drew continues icily. "Explain yourself. You have one last chance before my fist ends up in your face."

I am startled. I have never seen Drew this upset in my entire life. He radiates rage; he is beyond his self-control.

"You're making her unhappy," Brendan says defensively. "She doesn't even want to be in an arranged marriage. I just want to get her out."

"An arranged marriage is our own affair," Drew counters, finally releasing Brendan. "You're not in the picture."

"She's pretending to be happy for your sake," Brendan argues. "She's the type of person who doesn't want to hurt her friends."

"You're a liar," Drew snarls.

"You're ignorant and cowardly," Brendan responds. "To avoid awkward situations, you simply pretend as well."

"Who said I was pretending?"

Oh snap. x3

Sorry for the late update. This was the hardest chapter for me to write- I had to decide how to end the battles and deliver my message effectively. Extra cookies go to dorkyreader859 and OniGiriDreamOtaku for their guidance throughout this chapter. {Thank you for beating up writer's block!}

Can you please leave a review? I can never get enough inspiration. xD Once again, thanks for your support! c: