Chapter 14 – Semifinals: Faith VS Kimberly!

BZZZZT!

"That's it!" Damien shouted. "We're out of time! And this match's winner is…Kimberly!"

"Yay! We did it!" Kimberly hugged her Lickitung. One couldn't tell whether or not it was blushing due to its skin being candy cane pink. Mike, however, miserably recalled his Numel and sauntered off-stage.

"I really didn't expect Kimberly to win too," David said with a sweatdrop.

"Yeah," Jamie agreed. "She was kinda…reckless."

Kimberly walked backstage and wiped her brow. "Whew…what a hassle."

"I think you might've gone a little overboard," Faith said.

"Hey, I never pull any punches in a Contest Battle," Kimberly said. "You might want to keep that in mind."

"Huh?"

"You're my next opponent," Kimberly said. "Weren't you paying attention?"

"Oh. Right." Faith lowered her head.

"Come on. Cheer up." Kimberly sat down next to Faith. "Let's watch the next battle."

Faith looked a Kimberly for a second and put a smile on as the two watched the ensuing battle between Zack's Sneasel and Elizabeth's Meditite.

Two Contest Battles later…

"Hold onto your seats, folks," Damien shouted into his mike. "It's time for the Semifinals! Starting us off now are Faith and Kimberly! And here they are!"

Faith and Kimberly both stepped out from different doors backstage. They both waved to the audience as they took their positions on opposite sides of the field.

"Here we go," David said, leaning forward in his seat.

"Let's have a good clean battle, ladies," Damien said. "Let's have five minutes on the clock…and begin!"

"Time to play, Lickitung!" Kimberly threw out her Poké ball and Lickitung emerged in a burst of red confetti.

"Marina, it's Showtime!" Faith tossed out her Poké ball and Marina came out of the white light, landing on her tail. She felt a little overwhelmed not because of the audience, but because of the jumbo-sized Lickitung in front of her.

"Use Bubble, Marina!"

Marina bounced back and shot out a barrage of glossy bubbles.

"Splatter them all with Lick!" Kimberly ordered.

Lickitung twisted its head around as it shot its tongue out, lashing and destroying all the bubbles like a whip.

"Now, use Wrap!"

Marina looked flustered as Lickitung's long tongue wrapped around her tiny body. She cried out in pain as Lickitung held her up.

"Oh no," Faith said, a little scared. "What do I do now?"

"This is not good, folks," Damien said. "With Azurill caught in that versatile tongue, Faith's points are dropping like flies!"

"She needs to adjust to the situation," David said.

"What do I do…I know!" Faith snapped her fingers. "Use Charm!"

Marina once again used the "puppy dog eyes," causing Lickitung to blush hard and loosen its grip.

"Jump and use Slam!"

Using Lickitung's tongue like a spring, Marina launched into the air and dropped down, swinging her tail.

"I don't think so," Kimberly said calmly. "Defense Curl!"

Lickitung wrapped its arms around itself, blocking the impact from Marina's tail.

"Well, how's that for resourceful?" Damien said. "By using Defense Curl to block that Slam attack, Kimberly's also reduced how many points she's lost. Good for her, not so good for Faith," Damien added as both point meters dropped just a little.

"Now, use Wrap again!" Kimberly ordered.

Lickitung's tongue once again wrapped around Marina's body.

"This again?" Faith said.

"Not exactly," Kimberly said. "Give it a toss!"

Lickitung twirled around and flung Marina straight into the air.

"Now, as soon as it hits the ground, use Stomp," Kimberly said.

Lickitung nodded and started running for Marina.

"I never thought I'd need to use this attack," Faith said.

"What attack?!" Kimberly said.

Marina was getting closer and closer to the ground and Lickitung jumped into the air, getting ready to stomp…

"Use your tail to Splash!"

Marina flipped over and landed on her tail, immediately bouncing backwards while Lickitung mashed its foot into the stage floor.

"Whoa!" Damien shouted while Marina continued bouncing. "There's something you don't see every day: an otherwise useless move in a very useful fashion!"

"Splash?" Kimberly blinked. "She saved herself with Splash??"

David and Jamie were both speechless.

"I never thought I'd see the day," David said, "where that lame Magikarp move would be a good idea."

"You said it," Jamie said.

"Don't stop, Lickitung!" Kimberly shouted. "Keep using Stomp!"

"Keep it up with Splash, Marina!"

While Lickitung kept mashing its feet into the floor, Marina continued happily bouncing around the stage.

"That's so cute!" Faith said happily. "Now, use Bubble again!"

"Defense Curl!"

Marina launched into the air again, spraying more glossy bubbles at Lickitung, who shielded itself with its arms as the bubbles popped against its pink skin.

"Kimberly seems to be getting flustered," Damien said. "Defense Curl is more ideal for protection against Normal attacks, and with all those Stomp attacks missing, the score seems to be evening up!"

"I don't think so," Kimberly said. "Use Wrap on Marina's tail!"

Marina had already hopped into the air when Lickitung's tongue snagged Marina's rubbery ball tail.

"Let's see you bounce away from this, Marina," Kimberly said. "Swing her into the floor!"

Lickitung swung Marina around like a flail and slammed her into the floor, causing her to tumble back towards her trainer.

"Please get up, Marina," Faith pleaded. "It's not too late!"

BZZZZT!

"Whoa!" Damien shouted. "I was enjoying that battle so much I lost track of time! And so, moving on to the finals will be…Kimberly!"

Even as the audience cheered, Kimberly and Faith both seemed nothing less than stunned. Kimberly had to squint a bit to see she was about five points ahead before turning and bowing to the audience. Faith, however, scooped up her battered Polka Dot Pokémon and proceeded offstage.

"Azuuu…?" Marina said weakly.

"It's okay, Marina," Faith said, putting on a small smile. "You did great out there. I'm very proud of you."

Marina happily snuggled up in Faith's arms. Because she was so young and so innocent, she couldn't tell that her trainer was trying her hardest not to cry.

"Well," Jamie said, putting his hands behind his head, "she did put up a good fight."

"I gotta go see her," David said, getting up from his seat.

"Hey, wait up!" Jamie followed him out of the crowd.

Backstage, Faith wasn't paying much attention to the screen as the second semi-final battle commenced. She seemed to be more concerned about counting the ceramic tiles on the floor. She slowly turned around after David tapped her on the shoulder. Jamie was right behind him, just in case Faith was a little too upset.

"What do you two want?" Faith asked grumpily.

"We just wanted to know…if you're okay," David said sheepishly.

"And…we're sorry you lost," Jamie added.

Faith didn't even bother to turn around. "I just…need some time to think…"

"If you say so," Jamie said energetically. "Let's get outta here, David. I…huh?"

David, however, didn't move. He noticed Faith shuddering and sat down next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. And before he knew it, Faith burst into tears and buried her face in David's shoulder.

"Why did I lose?" Faith sobbed out. "I know I didn't have much time to practice, but still…"

"It's not so bad! Nya!"

David and Faith both spun around to see a small blonde girl wearing an endearing cat-like smile. She also had a black shirt with a white heart printed on it, a thin pink jacket, blue bellbottoms, and a Meowth in her arms.

Faith could only blink in astonishment. "Tabby?"

"You look a lot different in regular clothes," Jamie said.

"I get that a lot," Tabby said, "but that's not important. I've been in contests before and I've lost a few times. But that doesn't matter. People win at stuff and people lose at stuff. That's pretty much how everything works. Look at me. I lost to you and I'm not sad. Not one bit. I just need to prepare better for the next contest. I'm pretty sure you'll do better next time too."

Faith took a minute to consider Tabby's words. "…Hadn't thought of that."

"You will be at the next Contest, won't you?" Tabby asked.

Faith took a minute to consider Tabby's words. "Well…I…"

"Nyaoooooo?" Tabby stared straight into Faith's eyes with big pleading "doll eyes." That, however, was about all Faith could take before she let go of David and snared Tabby in a big bear hug!

"I can't take it!" Faith squealed. "You're just the cutest little thing! I just wanna hug you to pieces!"

Everyone backstage sweatdropped as Faith fangirled all over Tabby's cuteness.

"Can you tell me what that's about?" Jamie asked.

"I think Tabby just used Charm," David said.

Eventually, Faith calmed down and let Tabby go.

"Do you feel better now?" Tabby asked.

"Oh yeah," Faith said, putting a hand to her heart. "I feel a lot better! I needed to do that so bad."

"Good," Tabby said, "because the battle's over. Nya!"

"WHAT?!"

Everyone turned to the screen just as Damien announced that Elizabeth's Meditite had just trounced Pete's Sandshrew.

"We missed the whole thing?" Faith said, tearfully.

"It's no big deal," Kimberly said, walking in. "I saw the whole thing and as far as Contest Battles go, it was pretty boring."

"Where've you been?" David asked.

"I needed to go get a snack to calm my nerves," Kimberly said. "But enough about that. I have to get ready for the finals. Wish me luck, you guys!"

"You got it!" Faith said as Kimberly headed out the backstage doors.

The final battle…

"We're down to the one minute mark, people," Damien said into his microphone. "So far Meditite and Lickitung seem evenly matched. And the points don't lie!"

"Meditite, use Force Palm!"

Meditite charged forward with its hand glowing with a sort of blue energy.

"Dodge it and use Lick!" Kimberly shouted.

Lickitung made a spinning sidestep to avoid the Force Palm while its long tongue licked the back of Meditite's head, causing it to fall flat on its face.

"Get up and use Hidden Power!"

Meditite struggled to get back up. It held its arms out to try and create its white orbs, but it suddenly fell on one knee.

"What's wrong, Meditite?!" Elizabeth shouted.

"Well this was unexpected!" Damien said. "Meditite seems to be paralyzed from that licking! This could be dangerous!"

"We've got 'im now!" Kimberly said with a smirk. "Jump and use Stomp!"

Lickitung leapt into the air and brought its foot down right on Meditite's back.

"That girl's amazing!" David said. "She must've trained real hard for Lickitung to last this long against a Fighting-type like Meditite."

"She's gonna win! I know it!" Jamie shouted before Tabby got the boy in a headlock.

"Don't jinx it!" Tabby yelled.

"Children, do I need to separate you two?" Faith said with a hint of frustration.

"I can't afford to lose any more points," Elizabeth said. "Get up and use Hidden Power!"

Meditite struggled to get up and held its hands out, forming white energy orbs from out of nowhere and shooting them straight towards Lickitung.

"Use Lick!"

Lickitung wound up and swung its long tongue sideways to deflect some of the Hidden Power orbs. The white orbs smashed against Meditite sending it tumbling back.

"No! Meditite!"

BZZZZT!

"And that's it!" Damien shouted into his mike. "Time's up! So the one to take home the Peridot City ribbon is…Kimberly and Lickitung! What an upset!"

The crowd seemed to agree as they practically roared in delight. Kimberly and Lickitung happily hugged each other. At this time, David took the opportunity to spin around and hug Faith and not miss this time.

"What are you doing?" Faith asked.

"You owed me."

A little later, all the coordinators were back on the main stage (including David) with Kimberly standing alone in the center with Damien and the three judges.

"Here to accept the Peridot City ribbon," Damien said, this time holding the microphone in his hand, "is Kimberly Sharpe. You should be proud of yourself, little lady."

Kimberly blushed as Damien put the ribbon in her hand. "I-I'm honored, sir."

"We hope to see you again," Damien said. "And that, of course, goes for the rest of you: coordinators and fans alike! Let's meet again at the next Pokémon Contest! I know I'll be there."

David, Faith, Tabby, pretty much all of the coordinators clapped politely for Kimberly as Chapter 14 came to a close.

Yeah! Take that, fourth wall! You're not the boss of me!

If you guys think the gang is hitting the road again just like that. There's one more battle, plus an important phone call! But not in that order.