"Why don't you start by telling us your name, miss?" asked the man behind the black mask.

"My name's Lillie." she smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Lillie!" Lilly giggled, shaking the girl's hand. "Looks like we've got the same name."

"How cool!" Lillie responded. "What are you all doing here?"

"As the hero," said the masked man, "Night Shadow, I must stay here and protect the people of Eclisse City."

"Wow, that sounds like it takes a lot of courage!" Lillie smiled.

"Riley and I are here looking for our third badge each."

Night Shadow looked interested. "Your third badge, huh? Well, I'm..." He paused, "...sure you'll get them when you can demonstrate the power needed to deserve them."

"I just know I have the power for the Moon Badge!" Lilly remarked. "Do you know where the Pokemon Gym is?"

"I do," answered Night Shadow. "But it's closed right now. The Gym leader is out... running an errand."

"It's fine! Hey, Riley, let's check out Eclisse's famous Contest Palace while we wait! Oh, my mom was a Master Coordinator in her day, and I've always looked up to her for it!" Lilly ran off in the direction of the Contest Palace. Lillie with an -ie stayed, however.

She held a hand out in front of Riley. "I'll watch you, if you like, Riley." Riley shook her hand. He'd like that.

"Stay out of trouble if you can," Night Shadow nodded, his hands in fists at his waist. "May we meet again!" He jumped back over the rooftops until he was out of sight.

Lillie watched him leave with an intrigued look in her eyes. "I'll meet you at the Contest Palace, with Lilly." She put her arm around the Saturnius that had run away. "And you, little guy... Don't run away like that again! I had enough of that in Alola!"

Riley walked towards the Contest Palace, an unmistakable building built right in front of the cliff that was next to the colossal Eclisse City. It was breathtaking to look at. Or maybe what took Riley's breath was the man who smashed into him.

"Ouch," the man shrieked, dropping his briefcase! "I'm so sorry, R- who are you!?"

Riley explained that his name was Riley and that he was a Pokemon Trainer.

"Oh, Riley, huh? That name sounds familiar. I'm Derreck, the Gym Leader of Eclisse City. I heard from someone that you were going to challenge my Pokemon Gym, but I was actually on my way to the Contest Palace to watch a Pokemon Contest. I'm sorry, but it will have to wait."

Riley went ahead, entering the Pokemon Contest Palace to see Lilly standing in the corner with her similarly-named blonde friend. He walked over. She waved, "Oh! It's Riley!"

Riley smiled. "I hope you guys have a nice Pokemon Contest," said Lillie shyly. She left into the audience area, waving goodbye, Saturnius by her side and under her reticle. The audience was packing up quite nicely today. Who was performing that would be so popular?

"Hello, you two," said an unfamiliar voice. "You look like you're fresh for the stage. What do you say?"

"F-fresh f-for the-" Lilly stuttered.

"My name's Elric! I'm a pretty popular Pokemon Contest Coordinator," he smiled, "in Chinocko, if you didn't already know."

Lilly turned to Riley and whispered in his ear. "Is he talking to us...?" She blinked a couple times. "IS ELRIC TALKING TO US!?" Riley bounced back, dazed by Lilly's practical scream into his ear.

"Heh," was the dressed-up young man's reply. "Yeah, I'm talking to you. I would hate to let such radiant potential go to waste. Come with me into my dressing room, I think I have something perfect for both of you."

"Riley," Lilly chittered, hardly able to contain her excitement. "Chinocko's very own Elric is letting us into his own dressing room! This is amazing!"

Elric was incredibly handsome. He had a sculpted chin, a fine nose, and deep green eyes. His hair was golden blonde, short and styled in a gentlemanly fashion. On his cheeks were two impressive, handsome sideburns that sort of looked like the tail of a Pikachu. On the tip of one was a dab of red, and on the tip of the other a dab of blue.

He wore a pitch-black vest over a silvery-white dress shirt, which he coupled with some lightly-coloured skinny jeans for contrast. His own personal dressing room had a modern, contemporary vibe to it, furnished with potted plants and modern art spectacles tilted to 45-degree angles for aesthetic.

"Here," he said, holding up a tuxedo that was exactly Riley's size. "This is the tux I wore when I was still a beginning Coordinator, like you. I've kept it until now, but you have such an energy of art to you that I want you to have it."

He turned to Lilly, "I think I have just the thing for you, as well." He went into his closet and pulled out a white cocktail-style dress. "My sister is a seamstress. This is one of her creations."

Riley and Lilly both excitedly took their new outfits from Elric. "Oh," he added. "And one more thing you'll need." He handed the two of them each a pair of white, strapped gloves.

"Gloves?" asked Lilly.

"Not just any gloves," Elric affirmed. "These are equipped with the latest in holograph technology, produced straight out of Malasarri City."

"Holograph gloves? What...?"

"Let me show you." Suddenly, a soft green light flashed at the tip of Elric's index and ring finger. He drew in the air with it, and the light traced the picture he was drawing. The green light stayed in the air almost as if it were a solid object, until Elric raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Then, the light art shattered into a flurry of diamonds and disappeared.

Riley and Lilly were both shaken. Elric explained, "Here's why you'll need these:" He blinked, then explained, "these gloves are powered by the excitement of an audience. And with enough excitement, you can have your Pokemon use a Perfect Talent, which is kind of like the Contest equivalent of the foreign technique of Z-Moves."

To demonstrate, he drew a lightning bolt in the air with his glove, and when he snapped, it exploded into a jolt of electricity. "You'll get the hang of it. I'll meet you on stage, deal?"

"Deal!" Lilly yelped, her knees turned inward and one of her legs up in excitement. Elric left to register himself and the kids for the upcoming Pokemon Contest. Lilly changed into her brand-new cocktail dress, slid her sleeved gloves on, got into the beautiful shoes that Elric gave her, and struck a cute pose. "What do you think, Riley?"

Riley gave her a thumbs up. She really did look beautiful and cute. "Oh." She took her long hair out of its ponytail and let it roll down her back in natural curls. Riley blushed. It was too early for him to be judging girls this way. He distracted himself by changing into his own outfit.

First, he slipped his feet into the dress shoes that Elric gave to him. Then, he changed his shirt and put Elric's tuxedo on overtop of it. He slid on his holograph gloves, tightened his belt, did up his tie, and folded up his bandanna which he put into the chest pocket of the suit.

Lilly clapped. "You look great, Riley!" She sighed, her voice high with hype. "I've always, always wanted to participate in a Pokemon Contest. And now it's finally happening! And what's more, I get to do it with you. I'm so thankful to be taking this journey with you!" Riley smiled. He was happy to be accompanied by Lilly on this adventure too.

"Our first Coordinator of the night is the one, the only, Elric!"

The crowd roared and cheered and screamed when they saw the hint of Elric walking on stage. His wide shoulders were straight and his body had a backwards-curve to it because of how far he was pushing out his chest. He looked so confident and ready.

"Our second Coordinator is new to the Contest Palace! Please welcome Lilly with a warm hand!"

Lilly walked out, her elbows pressed close to her body and her stance pushed back to show a confidence that even Riley hadn't seen up until now. She carefully and swiftly took each step one by one until she was in her spot on the stage. She was beautiful.

It was Riley's turn. He gave a quick sigh before he was urged out by the assistant director. He opened up his posture and walked like he had everything in the world to show the audience. He put his feet directly in front of each previous step, and tried his hardest not to slouch, though he was sure he slipped up and slouched at least for a second.

"Welcome another new Coordinator, Riley!"

He felt so boosted when he heard the audience cheer for him, despite not knowing who he was. He scouted out Lillie in the audience, who was waving to him and Lilly. Saturnius was sitting beside her, and also looked beyond excited.

"And for our final contestant, we have the beautiful pop star herself, Polleniah!"

A young woman, about Elric's age, wearing a stylish purple short-dress with and boots that could function as their own pant legs, as well as a ladybug-patterned drape, butterfly-inspired fake wings, and a fancy hibiscus flower pulling her semi-long hair into a ponytail, walked on stage. The audience screamed and roared as loud as the roaring music that filled the colossal hall.

They each sent out their beloved Pokemon. Elric sent out a Pokemon that Riley hadn't ever seen before, a Pokemon that looked like a bird with a large body and a semi-long neck. It was black and brown in colouration, but on its wings there were a few feathers that glowed yellow and cyan. Around its neck was a collar that had a tie running through it. It looked adorable, but the way it composed itself was cool and sleek.

Lilly sent out Elelel, who happily swam around in the air with its cute blue bowtie. Polleniah, who Lilly seemed really intimidated by, sent out a strong-looking Pokemon that resembled Riley's Concealpillar, only in the form of a cocoon.

Riley sent out Burndillo, who rolled excitedly onto the stage. It stood up on its hind legs and raised its chin, adjusting its red and orange bowtie.