Jasmine arrived in Blackthorn City to help Summer and Rocky learn Stone Edge. The Gym Leader also gave Yuki advice about her combinations with Ume and Mikan, the two she will use for her possibly final Johto Contest. Yuki's rival, Azura, however, was aiming to complete her set of Ribbons and crush Yuki. Despite pressure from Azura's dazzling appeal, Yuki was able to create a beautiful display of her own. What are the results of the appeals round, and who will win this Blackthorn City Pokémon Contest?

Chapter 45- A Contest of Starry Proportions

Lightning and I explored the Blackthorn City Contest Hall, Bluk Berry lemonades in hand, looking at photos of Tops Coordinators from the city. Jasmine would have joined us, except she was signing autographs for fans in the lobby.

The PA announced, {We will resume the Contest in a few minutes. Please return to your seats.}

Oh, time to get Jasmine. We reconvened with the Gym Leader and make our way back to our seats.

Jasmine was exhausted and wiped her brow. "I can't believe I signed so many autographs today! But it was worth it to see everyone's smiles."

"Does that come with the territory of being a Gym Leader, Jasmine?"

"That, and also being a Coordinator. I don't know how my colleague in the Sinnoh Region can handle being both a Gym Leader and a Top Coordinator."

I was about to ask who she was talking about when the lights dimmed. Jadrian and the judges reappeared onstage.

"Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed the refreshments. Our judges have made a very tough decision of selecting the eight Coordinators who will compete in the battle round. And here are the results!"

She waved to the television screen and eight faces appeared. To my delight, Yuki was first and Azura was second.

After the crowd clapped, Jadrian continued, "We will now start the battles round with our first two Coordinators!"


In the Blackthorn City Pokémon Center, Caleb Caedmon glanced at his watch. That man is always late. I'm going to leave if he doesn't show up in five seconds.

A man with a Dunsparce at his side suddenly burst through the door. "Whew! I made it!"

Caleb rolled his eyes. "Finally, Diggy. I was just about to head out."

The blogger quickly approached the agent. "Please don't! You're my number one informant! I need more gossip!"

"Well then. Shall we get started?"

"Yes! Tell me more about Weldon Leland!"


The six Contest battles were fierce yet entertaining throughout the rest of the afternoon. The two faces of the remaining Coordinators, Yuki and Azura, the five-minute timer, and the yellow point bars were displayed on the television screen while we waited for Jadrian to return after a short break.

"I had a feeling it'll be between Yuki and Azura," Jasmine whispered, her arms crossed.

I nodded. "Those two really are great Coordinators. I just hope Yuki can defeat Azura this time; she got really close recently."

Jadrian waltzed onstage and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now down to our final two Coordinators. Please welcome Yuki Mizu and Azura Columba back onstage!"

We applauded as the two girls walked onto the battlefield and faced each other. Both looked confident, though Azura seemed to exude more of it. They let out their Pokémon, Ume and Mikan for Yuki, and Nuvola and Amora for Azura.

The Gym Leader smirked. "I'd love to see Yuki wipe that smug look off that sky girl's face."

I gave an awkward chuckle, knowing Jasmine's competitive spirit was getting too strong for my liking.

Jadrian smiled. "Coordinators, your five minutes begin now!"

Right when the timer started, Azura shouted, "Nuvola, Mist!"

With a flap of her wings, the Altaria shielded herself and her partner from view. Yuki's points went down slightly.

"What a beautiful shroud of mist!" Jadrian exclaimed. "How will Yuki find Azura's Pokémon?"

Yuki was unfazed and countered, "Ume, use Swift! Mikan, Flamethrower!"

Ume soared over the low cloud and waved her wings, releasing the stream of stars. A burst of fire from Mikan's mouth turned the Swift into the fiery stars I saw yesterday. The flaming stars evaporated the mist and struck both Nuvola and Amora. Both Pokémon were thrown back, but didn't take any major damage. Azura's points fell by a third.

"Wow, what a beautiful combination!" Jadrian praised. "Combining the accuracy of the Swift with the heat of the Flamethrower eliminated Azura's defense! How will she counter this?"

Azura smirked. "Amora, Attract!"

The Luvdisc closed her eyes, and a large pink heart formed from her mouth and floated towards Mikan.

Yuki recognized the danger. "Ume, knock that heart away with Quick Attack!"

"I don't think so. Nuvola, stop Ume with Aerial Ace!"

The Humming Pokémon intercepted the Swallow Pokémon, and they stared each other down. The Flying types then engaged in an aerial battle, causing both Coordinators points to slowly decrease.

Azura then shouted, "Amora, Water Pulse!"

The Water type aimed the orb of water at the battlefield. The attack transformed into a wave that propelled the large heart forward.

Yuki countered, "Mikan, Flamethrower!"

The stream of fire made the watery heart burst into smaller, light blue hearts that floated towards the Cyndaquil. He tried to escape, but the hearts touched his fur and caused his eyes to open in pink hearts. At the same time, Nuvola dodged Ume's right wing and slammed the Swellow's face. Ume fell onto the battlefield, but was able to stand up. Yuki's points unfortunately fell drastically, and Azura smiled triumphantly.

Jadrian shouted, "What a beautiful counterattack by Azura! Yuki now has a third of her points remaining, and the time is now at two minutes. Will Yuki be able to stage a comeback?"

"This is bad…" Jasmine muttered. "Who knows when a Pokémon under Attract will return to normal."

I clenched my fists. Yuki will pull through. She has to!

Yuki took a deep breath and smiled back, confusing her rival. She waved her arm. "Ume, put Mikan on your back and use Roost!"

The Flying type scooped the swaying partner onto her back and ascended. Then, she folded her wings in and a green light surrounded them. In the healing light, Mikan's eyes returned to its normal squinty look, and the two looked much better. Azura's points slightly decreased.

Azura gritted her teeth and shouted, "Nuvola, Dragonbreath! Amora, Water Pulse!"

The green flames and orb of water combined into an aqua colored fireball that hurtled towards Yuki's Pokémon.

Yuki smirked. "Ume, Swift! Mikan, Flame Wheel!"

The Fire Mouse Pokémon jumped off his partner's back and surrounded himself in a wheel of fire. As he dashed towards the fireball, Ume flapped her wings and released a stream of stars which formed two rings that whirled around the Flame Wheel. The collision of the combined attacks was like watching two asteroids smashing into each other. Both Coordinators' points fell drastically to a sixth remaining for both.

The girls anxiously watched the spectacle. Then, Yuki shouted, "You can do it, Mikan!"

The encouragement made the Flame Wheel grow larger, and the fireball started to split. Then, an explosion knocked all Pokémon back. Ume broke Mikan's spinning fall as she caught him on her back while Nuvola protected Amora by catching the Water type with her soft wings.

"Time's up!" Jadrian shouted.

Everyone watched the television screen, which was obscured by the smoke. As it dissipated, the Coordinators held their breath.

The hostess gasped. "I don't believe it! By just a fraction, our winner is Yuki Mizu of Snowpoint City!"

Yuki was in shock as her and her Pokémon's pictures flashed onscreen. Ume dove to her Trainer, and the three hugged and laughed. Everyone rose to their feet and clapped, myself and Jasmine included. Azura was stunned, but returned her Pokémon and walked offstage.

My friend got up as Jadrian approached her. "An excellent performance, Yuki. With this win, you are now eligible to participate in the Johto Grand Festival! How do you feel?"

She smiled. "I feel great, Jadrian. But I couldn't have done it without my friends and my Pokémon."

A man in a suit presented the hostess with a silver case. Jadrian opened it, revealing the two remaining Ribbons Yuki needed, the Ecruteak City Ribbon and the Blackthorn City Ribbon.

"Yuki, I present to you your two final Ribbons."

Yuki happily accepted her prizes and showed them to the crowd, who roared with excitement. The three bowed and returned backstage.

Jadrian announced, "Thank you everyone for watching today's Pokémon Contest. Please come back tomorrow for the fourth day of the Blackthorn City Contests, and if we do not see you then, we hope you come to the Indigo Plateau for the Grand Festival. Thank you for coming and enjoy the rest of your day!"

She bowed, and after we clapped, people began to leave the Contest Hall.


Backstage, Yuki, now back in her regular clothes, couldn't stop looking at herself in the mirror. I...I did it, and against Azura!

She then got up and turned to leave, only to find Azura glaring at her. "You cheated, didn't you?!"

Yuki was taken aback. "Wh-What?! I didn't cheat."

"Then why did you stutter? That's an obvious sign that you cheated!"

"I stuttered because of that wild accusation. Besides, what else makes you think that I did?"

Her rival crossed her arms. "You couldn't have improved so quickly! You always struggled with Contest battles."

"I learned a lot the past year and a half, Azura. Maybe you should do the same."

Azura growled. "I don't need your advice! You'll be singing a different tune when I destroy you at the Grand Festival!"

She stormed off, leaving Yuki alone in the dressing room. She sighed and returned to her friends.


Later that day…

In the Pokémon Center cafeteria, Jasmine, Yuki, and I enjoyed a bottle of apple cider.

Jasmine raised her cup. "To Yuki! I hope you can become a Top Coordinator this year!"

Yuki giggled. "Thank you, Jasmine. I'll do my best!"

We drank to the Gym Leader's toast and were about to head to the dormitories when Clair approached us.

The Dragon type user crossed her arms. "So, it is true. You are back in Blackthorn City."

Jasmine glared at her fellow Gym Leader. "A pleasure to see you too, Clair."

Yuki and I glanced at the two women. They looked like there were about to battle.

Clair smirked and turned away. "Good luck training that weakling of a Trainer."

As she walked away, Jasmine said, "Now I see why you called me, Summer. I'll make sure Rocky destroys Clair!"

"Uhh...okay. I didn't know you have a rivalry with Clair, Jasmine."

She crossed her arms. "I wouldn't say it's a rivalry, more or less. Clair has always been hostile with me ever since I became a Gym Leader a few years ago. I took over the position in Olivine City since my father retired. Because of that, she thinks my position was 'handed' to me, even though I underwent the same tests in being approved for the Gym Leader position."

I looked at the Spirit Necklace. "I think I get it. She hates me because I'm a Legend Guardian whose role is inherited by a family member…"

Yuki put her hand on my left shoulder. "But you proved to the Legendary Pokémon you were ready. Not only that, Teeni and Sorin respect you."

I softly smiled. "True. I just have to do the same with Clair."

Jasmine nodded. "Then let's continue training tomorrow. I'll make sure you get your last badge."

"Thanks, Jasmine."

We headed to our rooms and fell asleep.

Three days later...

Jasmine and I were fine-tuning Rocky's new move in Dragon's Den, with Yuki, Ichigo, Lightning and Òrd on the sidelines.

"Rocky, Stone Edge!"

The Steelix closed his eyes, then slammed his tail on the damp ground. A row of sharp rocks jutted out in front of him, reaching about the height of the Dragon Shrine building.

The Gym Leader clapped. "What a huge improvement! The move's not only stronger, but also faster. I believe you have the first version of the move mastered. That should hold off long range movement and attacks for a while."

I nodded. "Thanks, Jasmine. Rocky doesn't look as tired implementing the move too."

"That's because you two have been practicing so hard. Do you think you're ready to face Clair?"

"Yeah. There's not much time left to train before the start of the Silver League. I need to win as soon as I can."

Jasmine smiled at my determination. "I know you'll beat her, Summer. I wish I could watch your match, but I have to go back to Olivine City. I received the notice to resume Gym challenges."

"I understand. Thanks for helping us, Jasmine."

She giggled. "You're welcome, Summer." She glanced at her Pokégear. "Oh, I should head back. Good luck to both of you!"

"Thanks, Jasmine," Yuki and I replied.

Jasmine returned Òrd, waved goodbye, and ran outside.

I looked at Rocky. "You ready, Rocky?"

"Of course I am."

I clenched my fist. "Then let's make sure we use the rest of the day to practice with everyone. Tomorrow will be the day we'll get our last Gym Badge."

I let out Flower and Aurora, and we trained until it got late.

Summer's Pokémon:

Blaze (Blaziken, male): Brave Nature, moves: Fire Punch, Flamethrower, Blaze Kick, Sky Uppercut

Errol (Noctowl, male): Rash Nature, moves: Psychic, Confusion, Hypnosis, Air Slash

Aurora (Dewgong, female): Calm Nature, moves: Water Pulse, Ice Beam, Aqua Tail, Aqua Ring

Lightning (Raichu, female): Adamant Nature, moves: Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, Iron Tail, Thunder Punch

Flower (Ivysaur, female): Gentle Nature, moves: Sludge Bomb, Leech Seed, Razor Leaf, Sleep Powder

Rocky (Steelix, male): Lonely Nature, moves: Stone Edge, Crunch, Dragonbreath, Iron Tail

Yuki's Pokémon:

Momo (Wartortle, male): Quiet Nature, moves: Water Gun, Rapid Spin, Blizzard, Aqua Tail

Ume (Swellow, female): Adamant Nature, moves: Roost, Wing Attack, Quick Attack, Swift

Ichigo (Minun, male): Sassy Nature, moves: Discharge, Hidden Power, Helping Hand, Spark

Kiui (Skiploom, female): Jolly Nature, moves: Bullet Seed, Mega Drain, Tackle, Sleep Powder

Mikan (Cyndaquil, male): Bold Nature, moves: Tackle, Flame Wheel, Flamethrower, Smokescreen

Questions for the Chapter:

What did you think of the Contest?

What kind of information is Caleb giving Diggy Dunsparce about Weldon?

Will Summer win her final Gym Badge?