OK, all overtures aside...on with Chapter 12!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon; Nintendo and Satoshi Tajiri do.


FIGURE IT OUT

CHAPTER 12: FIRST DAY OF APPEAL (2-2)


"OK, Pachirisu, spotlight!" Dawn shouted, and a small white squirrel with a blue stripe along its tail emerged from its Poke Ball, surrounded by hearts. It landed on its tail, and jumped up and down in excitement. "Now, start off with Sweet Kiss!" Pachirisu raised its paws to its mouth, and blew a huge pink heart into the sky. When it got to about fifteen feet off the ground, Dawn ordered Pachirisu to use Discharge, which froze the heart in midair. Finally, Pachirisu was told to jump and use Super Fang, and it shattered the heart, creating tiny pink shards to fall from the sky, prompting immense applause.

"And Pachirisu finishes up with a powerful Super Fang, causing it to rain pink fragments of heart!" Lilian shouted through the speakers, and the crowd roared even louder. Dawn bowed repeatedly, then looked to the judges for their feedback.

"A fine and creative way of displaying Pachirisu's natural charm!"

"Yes, Pachirisu was remarkable!"

"Pachirisu is naturally cute, and its use of Discharge to freeze its Sweet Kiss was a very nice idea!" With the judges' opinions voiced, Dawn recalled her hyperactive Pokemon and skipped back to the waiting area, where May and Ash stood, watching with expressions of awe.


"Wow, Dawn, I had no idea you could freeze a Sweet Kiss like that," Ash said, shaking his head in amazement. "You really nailed it back there."

"Thanks, Ash!" Dawn said excitedly, looking as a trainer with a Bellsprout prepared to appeal. "So I guess you're up next, Ash. You and Pikachu ready?"

"Always," Ash said with a grin, and Pikachu squeaked in agreement. "Why don't you two head out to the stands, and we'll join you up there."

"I guess that's not such a bad idea," May said, as the Bellsprout trainer finished his appeal to a bit less applause than Dawn's appeal received. "Dawn, what do you...?" But as she tried to ask the bluenette, she was already gone, probably to leave the pair alone. Typical Dawn. "So...are you two ready?" May asked Ash, who was straightening his hat.

"Y-yeah," Ash stammered, a bit freaked out by the situation. "Why wouldn't we be?"

"Well, you've been acting so weird the past week, and I keep wondering whether you really are yourself anymore. You're so much more distant, and we never really talk properly; it's almost like you're a different Ash. What's wrong?"

"N-nothing!" Ash said defensively, and Pikachu jumped from his shoulder to look at his trainer with concern. "I-I'm just a bit nervous about this whole contest thing! I..." He faltered, then looked down at the floor, slightly dejected. "Alright, I'll come clean, May. I'm not sure if I'm good enough for you. There, I said it."

"Whatever gave you that idea?" May asked, concern entering her voice. "You're better than Drew, that's for sure," she said contemptuously as she mentioned the emerald-haired coordinator. "All he really cares about is his image. You...care more for me and your Pokemon than you do about making yourself look good. And that's good enough for me."

"Thanks, May," Ash told her, sighing in relief. He looked at the electronic message board across the room, and noticed with a slight touch of panic that he was next to appeal. "Whoa, they finished those appeals already? I'd better head out there." Before he could walk two steps, though, May had grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him to her, pressing her lips to his. Ash stiffened, then relaxed as he allowed himself to kiss her back. When they broke apart, he looked at her with a slightly confused expression, and May blushed furiously. Pikachu, for his part, simply laughed to himself.

"For luck," she told him, and hurried away to change and join the others. Ash stood there in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Then Pikachu tugged on his trouser leg and pointed out towards the contest stage before jumping onto his shoulder, and Ash nodded, running out to a tremendous ovation.


"Okay, Pikachu, let's get this going!" The small electric mouse leaped off his shoulder and saluted the crowd. Ash put everything out of his mind, save for what May's expression would be after he shocked the crowd, and nodded before continuing. "Alright, buddy, just like we practiced! Iron Tail, let's go!" Pikachu jumped up and swung his tail into the ground, sending chunks of dirt flying through the air. "Now, Thunderbolt!" The tiny electric mouse's tail sparked, and he unleashed a blast of electricity through the air, breaking up the dirt and sending sparking bits of rock and mud everywhere. Quick, Pikachu, run through the dirt and use Volt Tackle!" Pikachu's body became cloaked in a harsh yellow light as he ran through the dark, sparking bits of earth, and came to a stop, throwing off the light and posing for the crowd. The crowd roared in approval, and Ash grinned at his partner. Pikachu jumped on his master's shoulder and waited for the judges' opinions.

"A 'shocking' display of Pikachu's extraordinary power, and not a shabby visual effect, either!"

"Indeed, that Volt Tackle was remarkable!"

"Pikachu's abilities gave us a nice change of pace!" With that, Ash and Pikachu hurried back to the staging area en route to the stands, where he'd find May and the others.


"That was amazing, Ash!" May said as she threw her arms around Ash's neck. Both teens blushed madly as May released Ash, and turned to the others. Norman gave Ash an approving nod, and Caroline smiled knowingly at the pair. Max, for his part, was laughing hysterically, occasionally pausing to fire off some disjointed remark. As Delia ran over to Ash to congratulate him, May walked past her parents to where Dawn, Gary and Paul sat.

"You're May, right?" the plum-haired man she didn't recognize asked, and she nodded, not knowing what to make of this sudden greeting. "I'm Reggie Scott, Paul's older brother. I came by to offer my kid brother a bit of moral support when he competes tomorrow."

"Because I really want to excel at this hyped-up beauty pageant," Paul snarled, turning away. Reggie just shrugged in a 'suit yourself' manner, and looked back at May.

"I'm impressed with your Wartortle's moves. Not many Pokemon would be able to pull off such an impressive Aqua Tail. How long have you had it?"

"Um, since I rejoined Ash in Kanto, I think," May told him, still a bit flustered. "She evolved while I was traveling through Johto, and since then she's been a regular in contests."

"You don't say. All your appeals were qite impressive, you know? I didn't expect Dawn to use Pachirisu the way she did, but then again she's full of surprises, isn't she, Paul?" Reggie grinned at his younger brother, who shook his head in frustration.

"I told you, Reggie, she's with Oak now. I'm stuck with that Zoey Jennings," Paul growled, looking contemptuously at the fiery-haired coordinator a few rows in front of them. When Reggie gave him a confused expression, May responded before Paul could fire off a comment.

"Dawn felt bad that Paul didn't have someone to take to the Winter Ball, so she convinced Zoey to go with him. And as you can see by Paul's reaction, he's none too thrilled about it."

"Well, she's good-looking, I'll give you that," Reggie said, elbowing Paul, who growled in frustration again and got up to leave. "Oh, stop it, Paul, I'm just teasing," he added, and Paul shook his head again before sitting back down. A young man with a Prinplup had just finished his appeal, and the judges were giving feedback.

"Oh, look, Kenny just finished," May said, trying to ease the tension between the brothers. Ash walked over and sat down next to her, and Dawn giggled as he put his arm around May with an awkward smile on his face. May, for her part, just blushed and leaned forward so that he could put his arm completely around her shoulders.

"You two are so cute together!" Dawn squealed, and both teens blushed again, aware that everyone could see them. Gary just smirked and shook his head knowingly, and down the row Max nearly fell out of his seat laughing again. A stern glare from Norman silenced him, though, and he satisfied himself by playing a game on his PokeNav, thoroughly bored.

"Well, I think they make a fine pair," Reggie said, and soon after Lilian Meridian stated that the first day of appeals round was over, and that the next day was to be chock full of more exquisite performances. That was the whole group's cue to get up and head out, and Ash and May took the lead out of the area, May slipping her hand into his as they left.

The first day of the Viridian High School Pokemon Contest had ended.

Phew, glad this chapter's finally over with. Well, we had two more appeals from our main cast. Only Gary and Paul's remain now, and I might include Zoey's just for fun. Gary's confirmed using Scizor, but who will Paul use? The answers as we continue.

Okay, anime-style ending aside, please read, review and whatnot and give me an opinion. Believe me, it does matter. This is SJShark23 signing off.