Chapter 26: The Snowpoint Contest

Lyric heads into the house. "Hello, aunt Vanessa!".

Vanessa smiles. "I haven't seen you in a while. Sorry about the last contest."

"It's okay. Empoleon just is too big to be in them anymore. That's why he won't be in the Snowpoint Contest."

Vanessa nods and readies some tea. Lyric returns Rapidash and sits down on the couch. Vanessa returns. "It's getting pretty late. Why don't you stay the night?"

"Okay!" Lyric says. They spend the night catching up and meeting Lyric's Pokemon. Vanessa gives Lyric some gifts and treats to the Pokemon, and then they have dinner. Vanessa shows Lyric off to a guest room, and Lyric changes to her pajamas. After slipping under the covers, Lyric shuts her eyes and gets to sleep.

Lyric wakes up as the white sunlight peeks through her window. After changing, she exits the room and heads back to Vanessa's front room. Vanessa prepares tea and muffins. They eat, and then Lyric tells her aunt that it is time to go. Vanessa hugs her and wishes her good luck as Lyric leaves the building. Rapidash comes out again, and Lyric rides Rapidash through the snowy wonderland. After passing a large cliff with a sign labeled "Lake Acuity", Rapidash turns right and they ride into Snowpoint City.

Lyric checks in at the front desk in the Contest Hall, and then heads into the green room. She lets Buneary out with Rapidash. "Okay, you two! We're going to win this Contest today, and then we'll have all five needed ribbons! Then we'll somehow make it to Sunyshore City and enter the Grand Festival!"

Marion's voice begins over the intercom like it always does. "Next up, we have Lyric from Jubilife City making a comeback from last time!"

Lyric returns Buneary and grumbles, and then runs out onto the stage. "Buneary! Spotlight!"

Buneary's Pokeball opens, creating hearts flying everywhere. Buneary jumps through one of the ones in the middle, smashing them all at once. "Okay, Buneary! Let's do this! Use Ice Beam to create a roller coaster track, and then Bounce to the top off it!"

Buneary obeys, gracefully leaping into the air. She creates a loopty-loop out of ice and then hops on it, spinning on one foot as she rides it. The audience goes wild. "Now smash it with Dizzy Punch!"

Buneary goes down the roller coaster again, and then smashes the top of the loop with her ears. It shatters, and Buneary lands carefully on the ground. The audience stands up and cheers as Buneary hops into Lyric's arms. Lyric carries her offstage, where Rapidash greets them. "Okay, Rapidash. It's pretty clear that we'll be in the semi-finals. I need you to battle with beauty!"

Rapidash and Buneary cheer, and the results pop up on the board. Lyric is facing a coordinator named Lucile.

Lyric returns Rapidash and heads off to the stage. Lucile sends out her Mothim, and Lyric sends Rapidash out. "Okay, Rapidash. This will be easy. Use Flame Charge!"

Rapidash bursts with flames, and then charges at the Mothim. Mothim flies up, but Rapidash follows, slamming Mothim's wing. "Nice!" Lyric calls.

Mothim recovers, and is ordered to use Silver Wind. The wind blows Rapidash backwards and causes the battlefield to look shiny, lowering Lyric's score.

"Rapidash! Flare Blitz on the battlefield!" Rapidash slams itself of the ground, creating a star of fire on the floor. Mothim's burned wing curls up, causing it to fall into the center of the star. "Rapidash! Finish it off with Stomp!"

Rapidash hurries over to Mothim and pounces on it. Mothim stops moving. "Mothim is unable to battle! Lyric and Rapidash win!" Marion shouts.

Lyric returns Rapidash and they run offstage.

The other winner is Jeremiah, with his new Magnezone, so Lyric turns right around to go out onto the battlefield.

Jeremiah stands opposite of her.

"Rapidash!" Lyric shouts. "Let's go to the Grand Festival!", as the journey continues!