"Where is the Contest Hall?" I ask myself. How would I know though? Well, it should stand out among the other buildings so I enter the huge circular dome and meet up with two girls: Keira and...wait! MY MOM!? Why is SHE here!?
"Oh! My hero!" Keira exclaimed with joy. I was blushing to be called that. No one has ever called me a hero before.
"Oh, hi, Rebekah." mom said turning to me. She invites me to come closer to I do just that.
"Wait! No! Really?! Johanna is your mom?" So that's my mom's name. "So you might be a Contest star!?" the girl squealed with more excitement.
"Oh, I don't know about that. I've never spoken to Rebekah about Contests." mom giggled. "I'm surprised you two know each other, though."
"Oh, yes, that's right!" Keira remembered. "I need to thank you for earlier. Please take this Accessory." The girl hands me Glitter Powder to use for Pokemon Contests.
"Put that Accessory on your Pokemon before a Contest." Keira began. "It will lend a nice touch of sophistication and glamour"
"Okay cool, but how do these Contests work?" I asked.
"It's like a battle, but instead of fighting using attacks to knockout your opponent: you use your move set to wow the audience and judges." Keira explained.
"Kinda like a Pokemon fashion show?"
"Yeah, I guess. Okay, Johanna, I'll see you!"
Keira leaves to attend her judging duties leaving me and mom to chat.
"Were you surprised to see me, Rebekah?" she asked.
"Yeah." I said nodding.
"I got board, so I came out to Hearthome for a little vacation." mom explained. "I'm just as surprised to see you here, my dear!"
"Heh heh!" I chuckled.
"But are you serious about entering Contests? Not dressed that way!" she said looking at my outfit. "When your Pokemon is all dressed up, you can't be dressed your usual way." With that said, mom gives me a dress. Just what I ordered!
"I'm sure it will look good on you. After all, I chose it. Go enjoy the Contests, honey!"
Mom finally left, leaving me on my own. I look around and see many different people, but one stands out among them: a girl with purple hair tied in four pigtails and to go with it a purple dress sparkling with glamour. If you know me, I'm shy and don't go up and talk to people. But what if this person is the Gym Leader? The guy at the Gym entrance did say she was at the Contest Hall.
"Yes? I beg your pardon?" the girl in purple asked.
"I, uh-"
"Ah, oul, Contests you are here for? I hope very much you enjoy them."
"I was gonna ask, are you the Gym Leader?"
"Incidentally, Fantina, the Gym Leader of Hearthome. She is, how do you say, tres fantastique! Fantina being myself, of course!"
"I guess, I love the color purple." I said sheepishly.
"Ah! How nice. Now, let me see...You also seem tres strong. Enfin, so shall it be. I wait for you at the Gym!"
Fantina leaves the Contest Hall for the Gym. Just what kind of English does she speak? It's so weird! Oh well, time to face her in the Hearthome Gym! She has Ghost Type Pokemon so Dark and Ghost types would be at an advantage. But I don't have any! Kadabra, however, can learn Shadow Ball so I teach him that. Yet he has a disadvantage being a Psychic Type. What do I do!?
Just like always..I wing it! I run in and meet the man who was blocking the entrance. He welcomes me to the Gym saying, "Hey, there! How's it going Champ-to-be?" I scratched the back of my neck, blushing as red as can be. "Your third Gym battle awaits beyond this door. I warn you: Fantina is a wicked Trainer, be on guard." With that, I walk beyond the door and meet Fantina.
"Ohohoh!" she said spinning around trying to sound like a ghost. "Finally, you have arrived! Since I came to this country, always I try to learn new things. They hold Contests in this city? I say to myself, enfin, I will excel. That's why I dress this way C'est une performance!"
Finally, the battle begins! Fantina sends out Duskull and I send out Kadabra. Thankfully my Pokemon is faster so Shadow Ball hits and knocks out Duskull. "Is that it?" I asked tapping my foot. "Hmhmhm! Nigh! Mismagius!" Fantina's next Pokemon is out and she's stronger than I thought. She uses Confuse Ray and confuses Kadabra. I command it to use Shadow Ball, but he hits himself and is out the next turn. "Unbelievable!" I gasped. Fantina was enjoying this, but I have another trick up my sleeve. "Staravia!"
With his intense speed, I manage to attack using Aerial Ace that was formally Wing Attack. Also, I have the advantage of Staravia being a Normal Type. It seems all too easy! Mismagius was out, so the next Pokemon she has is Haunter. "Oh, heavens, what is this? Is this my final Pokemon?" Fantina asked rather shocked. Haunter was a faster Pokemon than Staravia so she uses Hypnosis and puts my Pokemon to sleep, "Ugh! I hate that!" I growled. Fantina's Haunter uses Sucker Punch leaving Staravia in a pinch. Knowing this wasn't going well, I switch out Staravia with Piplup, Haunter was gonna use Sucker Punch again, but it failed.
"Piplup, use Bubble Beam!" I commanded. Bubbles are shot out of Piplup's mouth aimed at Haunter. It leaves her on the edge so she has a chance to get Piplup. In an attempt to make a comeback, she uses Shadow Claw but the proud penguin is still in. One more Bubble Beam and she was toast. "You are so fantastically strong. I know now why I have lost." Fantina said with a smile.
"You're Pokemon are really strong! Please accept this Relic Badge." Fantina hands me the Relic Badge making it my third Gym Badge. "Yes! Three down, five to go!" This journey is taking a turn for the better! I haven't felt sadness creep up on me recently so all seems well. Can it get worse from here on out? Maybe better than now? I guess I'll have to find out, as the journey continues!