Michelle's POV
Today was the day. It was the day of the contest. It was my turn to win, just like Adam and Jason had done in their gym battles.
I was in the lobby, talking to Adam and Jason, since I had some time to spare before I had to go backstage and get ready.
"Today's contest is a double performance. I have to use two Pokemon at the same time during both rounds." I explained to the boys.
"Hi, Michelle." a voice said from behind me.
We turned and saw Maisey and her kids, Kyle and Katie.
"Hey," I greeted.
"We wanted to wish you good luck, Michelle." said Kyle.
"Yeah, good luck. This is the first time we've ever been to a contest. I'm excited about it." Katie said, smiling.
"Well, I did promise to put on a performance that you wouldn't forget, so I'll do exactly that. After all, it's your first time ever seeing a contest, so I want to make it a great one that you'll always remember!" I said, wanting to do my best for them.
"Can't wait to see what happens!" Kyle cried.
"Looking forward to it, Michelle. I'm sure it'll be awesome!" Katie said happily.
"Oh, and after the contest is over, we have a surprise to give to the three of you." said Maisey.
A surprise? I wonder what that could be? I thought to myself.
"We'd better go and get some good seats." Maisey said and left with her kids.
"We should go, too. You still need to go and get ready." Jason said to me.
Adam and Jason hugged me together.
"Good luck. You'll do great." Jason said.
"Good luck, Michelle. You'll be fantastic, like always." said Adam.
They headed to their seats and I headed backstage to get ready.
When I got backstage and to the waiting area, there weren't many people there. I figured that most of them must still be getting ready.
After changing into my contest outfit, I sprayed on some of the new perfume that Amber had given to me on my birthday a while ago. This was my first time using it. I then walked over to a mirror to check my appearance once more before I walked out.
I looked around the waiting area, looking for my friends to see if they were competing today. I saw Amber, who was reading a letter, and then I found Nikki, who was sitting on the other side of the room.
Looking around the room once more, I saw that Carley wasn't there.
She must not be competing in this contest, but I know that we'll meet again. When we do meet again, I hope that I can beat her. I thought to myself.
"Hey, Amber." I greeted once I had reached her.
"Hi, Michelle."
"What are you reading?" I asked, motioning to the paper.
"The letter that my dad left me at the end of the Grand Festival in Kanto." Amber replied as she carefully folded it back the way it was and put it away. "I've been keeping it with me ever since then, for good luck. It's the only thing that I have to remind me of my dad and it makes me feel happy when I read it, since I know that he wants me to follow my dream."
Adam, Jason, and I had run into Antonio back in Catallia City, but I didn't need to tell Amber that.
I looked around and saw Nikki and was about to head over to her when Victoria's face appeared on the TV screen and she began to do the introductions. The contest was starting.
A woman walked over to me and said, "Michelle, you're up first."
What?! Oh no... I thought as I made my way towards the onstage curtain. I always felt nervous when I was the first coordinator to perform.
No, I can do this. I have to do well. I promised Kyle and Katie that I'd put on a performance that they'd never forget and I won't let them down. I thought, trying to calm myself.
I waited behind the curtain and took a breath to calm myself as Victoria introduced the judges.
"Now, entry number one is Michelle!" Victoria announced. I ran out and everyone started to cheer.
"Haunter, Togetic, spotlight!" I cried, crossing my arms in front of me and then tossing my Pokeballs. Haunter and Togetic were surrounded a huge heart.
"Haunter, use Mean Look! Togetic, use Magical Leaf!" Haunter's eyes appeared in the heart and the scary move was ended as the leaves hit the eyes, making it disappear, and causing the heart to burst and sparkles to fall.
"Now, Togetic! Use Safeguard! Haunter, use Dark Pulse!" Togetic glowed blue. The Dark Pulse headed towards Togetic.
"Sweet Kiss, Togetic!" The two moves collided and created sparkles. When I had practiced that move, I had called Togetic's command too late and the attack would hit her. Thankfully, I had managed to figure out when I needed to call out for Togetic to use Sweet Kiss.
"What a wonderful way to start the contest!" Victoria cried. The judges also said that they enjoyed what I did.
I curtsied as people cheered for me and my Pokemon. I then spotted Maisey and her kids and waved to them before I returned my Pokemon and walked backstage.
"That was amazing, Michelle!" Nikki cried, running over to me as I entered the room.
"Thanks, Nikki."
"That entrance sure was something. Great job, Michelle." said Amber.
"So how many ribbons do you guys have?" I asked, looking at the next coordinator onscreen.
"I have one." Nikki replied.
"Same here, you?" Amber asked.
"One, too."
After a few other coordinators, it was Amber's turn.
"Wish me luck?" she said, standing up and smoothing down her dress.
"Good luck," I said and Nikki held two thumbs up.
"Next up is Amber!" Victoria announced. Amber ran out onto the stage.
"Furret, Psyduck, take the stage!" Amber cried, tossing her Pokeballs. Furret appeared with bubbles surrounding it and Psyduck appeared with stars.
"Fury Swipes! And Psyduck, use Psychic!" Amber cried. Furret swiped through the bubbles, causing water droplets. Psyduck used Psychic, stopping the stars and the water droplets in the air.
"Now use Quick Attack, Furret!" Amber cried as she pointed towards the stars and water droplets. Furret ran forward and jumped, hitting the stars and causing them to burst.
"Defense Curl, Furret! Water Gun, Psyduck!" Furret was still in the air and curled into a ball right as the Water Gun hit.
Impressive. It shows off both Pokemons' abilities, Furret's defense and Psyduck's power. I thought to myself as the Water Gun was stopped and spread out in different directions once it hit Furret.
"A wonderful performance!" Victoria cried.
Amber waved to everyone as the crowd cheered and she walked offstage.
"Wow. That was great, Amber." I said.
"Yeah, very nice." Nikki added.
"Thanks. So when do you go, Nikki?" Amber asked.
"I'm one of the last coordinators. I'm second or third last." she replied.
... ...
"Next up is Nikki!" Victoria announced.
Nikki ran out and twirled.
"Gastly, Vulpix, curtain!" Nikki cried, tossing her Pokeballs. Flames surrounded the two Pokemon.
"Vulpix, use Smokescreen!" Nikki cried. Smoke covered the two Pokemon and the remaining flames.
"Now use Shadow Ball, Gastly!" The Shadow Ball burst through the smoke.
"Flamethrower!" Through the smoke, all you could see was an orange glow before the flames burst through.
"Fire Spin!" The fire and the smoke combined and created a vortex.
"Now, Gastly! Do it!" Gastly attacked the vortex, breaking it and causing a light smoke to fall with a few embers.
Wow! That was impressive. Fire and smoke makes me think of destruction, but Nikki showed that it can show beauty as well. I thought.
"Wow! That sure was something! Beautiful!" Victoria cried.
"That was impressive, Nikki." Amber said once Nikki made it backstage.
"Thanks,"
"It was amazing." I said.
After the last coordinator had finished, we waited to see who would make it to the battle round.
"...And now to show who will be moving on to our second round, the battle round. Here are the coordinators moving on."
Nikki's picture appeared, then mine, and then Amber's. We had all made it.
"Yes!" I cried.
"And now to show who will be battling against who!"
None of us were going to be battling against each other in the first round.
"Good luck," I told my friends, since I had to battle first. I was the first one to perform in the contest and also the first one to battle.
"You, too!" they called after me.
"To my left is Michelle and to my right is Dominic. Five minutes on the clock, and begin!" Victoria cried.
"Arcanine, Jolteon, spotlight!" I cried.
"Vaporeon and Eevee, showtime!" Dominic cried.
... ...
"Michelle wins!" Victoria cried.
... ...
"To my left is Amber and to my right is Sasha! Five minutes on the clock and begin!" Victoria cried.
"Ponyta, Pidgeot, let's go!" Amber cried.
"Chikorita! Pikachu! Come on out!" Sasha cried.
... ...
"Amber wins!" Victoria cried.
... ...
It was now the final battle of the first round of battles.
"To my left is Anna and to my right is Nikki! Five minutes on the clock and begin!"
The stage had been turned into a water stage with floating platforms. Someone had a Water Pokemon that had to be in water.
"Chinchou, Electabuzz, curtain!" Nikki cried.
So it was Nikki. Chinchou must be one of her new Pokemon. She also has two Electric types. Hmm, interesting choice of Pokemon for this battle, Nikki. I thought.
"Magby, Totodile, time to shine!" Anna cried.
... ...
"Nikki wins!" Victoria cried. "And now to show who will be facing off in the semifinals."
I was going against Amber and Nikki was going against a guy named Ryan.
"Don't hold back." I said, looking across the battlefield at Amber.
"I'm not holding back anything." she replied confidently.
I stood, waiting for Victoria to announce that the battle would be starting.
"To my left is Michelle and to my right is Amber. Five minutes on the clock and begin!" Victoria cried.
"Arcanine, Jolteon, spotlight!" I cried.
"Ponyta, Pidgeot, let's go!" Amber cried.
"Arcanine, use Flamethrower! Jolteon, use Thunderbolt!"
"Aerial Ace, Pidgeot! Flamethrower, Ponyta!"
All of the moves collided with one another and fought for dominance before canceling each other out.
"Quick Attack, Jolteon!" I cried.
"Use your own Quick Attack, Pidgeot!" Amber cried.
... ...
Only a few seconds were left and Amber had more points left, but just barely.
"Okay, Jolteon and Arcanine, use Thunder Fire!" I cried. Arcanine used Flamethrower and Jolteon used Thunder. The two moves merged together to create a Flamethrower that was surrounded by electricity. The two moves hit Amber's Pokemon before she could command them to move.
The buzzer sounded and I looked up at the screen, but didn't see the points.
"The winner and who will be moving on to the finals is...Michelle!" Victoria announced.
I had done it! Now all that was left to do was win against either Nikki or Ryan in the finals.
"That last combo that you used was impressive, Michelle. Very powerful. Two powerful moves made one awesome attack." said Amber.
"Thanks, you did great, too."
"Thanks, and good luck in the finals."
... ...
"...And the winner is...Ryan!" Victoria announced.
Nikki had lost. In the finals, I would be going up against Ryan, who was using a Totodile and Quilava.
"It's now time for the final battle to determine who will get the ribbon and be one step closer to the Grand Festival! To my left is Michelle and to my right is Ryan! Five minutes on the clock and begin!" Victoria cried.
"Arcanine, Jolteon, spotlight!" I cried.
"Totodile, Quilava, come on out!" Ryan cried. "Totodile, Quilava, use Water Gun and Flamethrower!"
"Jolteon, use Thunderbolt on the water. And Arcanine, use your own Flamethrower."
The moves collided and fought for dominance.
"Jolteon, just a little more." I said, hoping that she could get her attack to travel through the water.
... ...
I started doing better as the battle kept going. Only a minute and a half was left on the clock.
"Now, Jolteon! Use Thunder! Arcanine, use Fire Spin!" I cried.
"Counter with-" Ryan started, but stopped as the attacks hit his Pokemon.
A buzzer sounded and looking at the screen, I saw that my points were slightly higher than Ryan's, but there was still time left on the clock.
"What? Why did it stop?" I wondered aloud.
"Ryan's Pokemon, Totodile and Quilava, have fainted. Michelle is the winner!" Victoria announced.
I had done it! I had won! I hugged Arcanine and petted Jolteon's head, thanking them both.
I was then presented with the Azalea Ribbon and raised it above my head as the crowd cheered for my victory.
After changing back into my regular clothes, I walked outside and saw Amber and Nikki waiting for me.
"Great job, Michelle!" Nikki cried, hugging me.
"You did great!" Amber added, smiling.
"You know, in Kanto, I was the last one of us to get my second ribbon. Now I'm the first. It feels nice, though." I said, smiling.
"The next contest is in Goldenrod City. I hope to see you guys there." said Nikki.
"Yeah, I hope to see you guys there, too. See you later, Michelle." said Amber.
"Bye bye!" Nikki cried as she and Amber left.
I looked around and saw Adam and Jason running over to me.
"Great job, Michelle! You got your second ribbon!" Jason cried.
"I told you that could do it, Michelle. You did amazing!" Adam added.
"Thanks, guys! I'm just so happy. I got my second ribbon before any of my friends this time." I said, smiling.
"Carley...she didn't enter this contest."
"Yeah, but she'll probably be in the next one. We both want to be Top Coordinators, after all. I know that we'll meet again soon."
"Great job, Michelle." Maisey said as she and her kids approached.
"That was so cool! Your Pokemon were great!" Kyle cried.
"It was amazing and I'll never forget it! You looked so pretty, too!" Katie cried, smiling.
"I'm glad that you both enjoyed it. I try my best to make everyone who's watching happy."
"Now it's time for your surprise." the twins said.
Kyle walked up to Adam and Jason, handing them their Friend Ball and Heavy Ball, respectively. Katie walked over to me and handed me my Lure Ball.
"Thank you for making these Pokeballs for us, Maisey."
"You're welcome. I have one more thing to give you."
Maisey walked over to Adam and handed him a Pokeball that was half gold and half silver.
"This is called the GS ball. Your dad brought it to my grandfather many years ago. He was never able to open it or find out what it does. I've had it ever since he died and it's a mystery to me, too. Take this as a keepsake from me, and who knows? Maybe you'll be able to solve its mystery."
"My dad mentioned this to me in a few of his stories. He got it from Professor Ivy in the Orange Islands, brought it to Prof. Oak, and then he brought it to Kurt. Thank you, Maisey." said Adam.
"Well, we have to get back on the road now."
"Yeah, we've spent a while here." Jason added.
"We really enjoyed your contest, Michelle." Kyle said.
"We'll be watching all of the other contests to see you perform. Good luck, Michelle." Katie added.
"Thank you, I love having people watching me and cheering for me."
We said goodbye and left. We waved to Kyle and Katie just before they were out of sight.
"You know, Michelle, you've gained two new fans. Kyle and Katie are cheering for you to win and reach your goal, just like Vicki and Brittany are. People are noticing you and your talents." Adam said.
"Yeah, I know. It's great that I get young fans like them. It makes me feel happy, because I want to make them proud. And who knows? Maybe one day I'll inspire someone to be a coordinator, like how your mom inspired me." I replied.
Author's Note: Michelle has won her second ribbon and gained two new fans in Maisey's kids: Kyle and Katie. She, Adam, and Jason have also been given new Pokeballs made from the apricorns that they gathered.
Plus, Adam has been given the GS ball from Maisey. The mystery surrounding this Pokeball has never been solved. What will happen now that Adam has it?
Find out as the kids journey onward to Goldenrod City in the next chapter of Pokemon NG!
