This is my Christmas 2019 present to all of my followers and fans of the story. Thanks for staying strong with me during my TERRIBLE writer's block and I hope this chapter makes you happy.
On with the chap!
The sound of running water came to an end as Mariah finished washing the final plates and glasses, she placed the clean black plates in the drying racks and cleared the kitchen counters. It looked as if she was never there. The red head smiled and picked up her pecha phone, it immediately rung and the display screen shown a picture of Lita wearing her glasses in a selfie with Mariah, the red head accepted the call.
"I saw everything."
"Then you know it's about to go down later on." Lita added from the other line. "Will you be back to watch the final battle with us?"
"Of course, when is it?"
"At sunset. They have to fix the stage and include any other extra props."
Mariah fiddled with her bangs while walking toward the glass doors. "I'll be there; Jess needs all of our cheering power to get her win."
Lita laughed. "That's true, Raye and I cheered so much this morning, our voices are half shot so we're at the market now to get some tea with honey."
"Ok, get better and I'll see you all later on."
"See you soon Red." The click from the phone signaled the end of the call. The red head placed her phone in her pocket and stepped outside, feeling the almost noon day sun on her skin, she stretched her arms in the air and looked at her soft orange painted nails.
'It's such a good thing I finished the Starlight Ball designs before coming over here, I can really enjoy myself.' A smile graced the female's face as she placed her arms down and looked at the garden in front of her. 'Maybe we all should visit Fortree city and Lavaridge town before leaving, I really want to try out those famous hot springs.' She walked towards a few flowers and smelled them, a particular flower stood out in her eyes and a finger lightly touched it, the pink colored flora placed a bigger smile on the female's face. "I hope you're doing ok Jess."
A soft noise then came from the villa Mariah looked at the glass doors to see the champion standing by the entrance with a small smile, he walked outside and approached the red head. "Enjoying your time so far?"
"Oh yes, It's been amazing. I even cooked for a champion, I'm sure I have bragging rights for a long time for that." Mariah giggled and blushed. "Was everything to your satisfaction?"
Steven nodded. "It was all delicious and filling, compliments to the chef and her assistant."
"Oh, my friend from last night says 'thanks' for the awesome spot for the Litleonid shower. She got some beautiful pictures from the angles and clear view."
"You're welcome, the space center works close with my dad's company so I visit all the time and know the best places to see all of Mossdeep." A small but noticeable blush crept onto the champion's pale face. "Would you like to return there to see more of the area?"
Mariah's blush deepened. "I-I would love to..." She then shook her head. "But I can't, the Wallace cup finals are at sunset and I want to return to Slateport so my friends and I can cheer on Jessie together." Red eyes met teal eyes. "I'm sorry."
"That's ok." Steven scratched his head. "I was hoping we would continue our time together but friend duties call right?
"Who said that our day ends here?" Mariah asked the man, he looked at the female as she continued. "Would you like to come with me to Slateport?"
It was now Steven's turn to turn red. "That would be fun but I'm like a celebrity around Hoenn, if I attend the Wallace cup all the attention will go off of Wallace and onto me."
"Then dress incognito." Mariah smirked, she then held Steven's hand and pulled him inside the villa. "You went to the shower last night and no one bothered you, why not do it again? Besides, you are off today so it makes more sense."
The teal haired man was literally red at this point, a female touched his hand involuntarily and is pulling him in any direction she chooses. 'This never happened with any woman.' "I-I don't know Mariah, are you sure?"
The red head pulled the champion inside his villa and closed the door behind them. "Wasn't it you that said you wanted to spend the day together? We can, in Slateport." Mariah smiled.
Steven scratched his hair and sighed, his face was a shade brighter than the hair of the woman in front of him. "Ok, I'll change."
"Awesome! We need a great spot to watch the finals so the earlier we get there is better."
Meanwhile in Slateport…
"Please leave a message and I'll get back to you." A beep resounded through a speaker.
"Hi Volkner, it's Mya. I know the time change is affecting me and you're probably sleeping, I haven't heard from you in a while so let me know how you're doing. Take care love." Mya hung up her phone and slumped further into her seat.
"How many times did you call him?" A female voice asked her, the coordinator looked over to see the magenta haired woman brushing her hair in the mirror.
"This makes it seven since we came to Slateport. I remember he told me before we left that he would be busy with a lot of gym challengers; ever since the Battle Zone gained more popularity and travelers buying houses and villas at the nearby Resort Area, the gym challenge has gotten fiercer." The black woman smiled. "I've never seen Volkner so energized to work."
"Oh really?" Jessie looked at her rival's face through the mirror. "How many challengers won so far?
"Last time I checked, six." Jessie raised an eyebrow as Mya smirked. "Trust me, Volkner has not shown any challengers mercy. I trained with him a little before coming here and he let me have it, that's also where Mila learned shock wave."
The magentette turned around to fully face Mya. "You look very happy with him; did you like him for a long time?"
"I'm sure Flint told you but that's correct. A few years ago after he saved me from drowning when a Tentacruel shocked my leg, he went above and beyond to help my parents take care of me. He even went far as to sleep over just to assist at night when my parents were asleep so I don't bother them." A blush of red filled Mya's cheeks. "We spent time talking about everything; our dreams, favorite food, how Flint maintained his red afro so perfectly- we still do that today."
Jessie giggled as Mya continued. "It was him getting his gym leader status that motivated me to become a better coordinator. I wanted to become a woman that climbs to the top with hard work and dedication to something I love, becoming his girlfriend was just the icing between a three-layer cake."
"Don't you mean 'Icing ON the cake'? "
"No." Mya rose from her chair and walked to the dressing room door. "The icing on my cake will be getting the Ribbon cup at this year's Grand Festival." She held the doorknob and turned back to Jessie. "Adrian and I saw that fumble you had during your earlier battle."
"It wasn't a fumble!" Jessie yelled out. "It was a mistake!"
"A mistake that almost caused you the competition."
Jessie sighed and bit her thumb nail while looking away.
"As your friend and rival, I'm saying that if that person doesn't push you to do better in your career or if he still has something over you from the past, he's a hindrance to your future. You go out there and win this contest Jess, I know you have that in you to take this ribbon." Mya opened the door and left.
The silent click of the closing door made Jessie look at the mirror in front of her.
"I did that already Mya, although I haven't told him to his face." Jessie rose from her chair and flipped her hair. "My name is Jessie Musashi and I have an aqua ribbon to win." She smirked in the mirror.
Later on, the Slateport sky began to turn orange as the setting sun indicated the final battle beginning soon. Mariah took a drink from her bottled water and smiled. "I can't wait for this battle; I'm going to make sure Jessie receives ALL of my energy tonight."
A small chuckle came from her side; the teal haired champion fixed his black framed glasses as he sat down on a chair. "Who are we waiting for?"
"My friends, we'll all go in together." The red head's eyes lit up. "Speaking of my girls…OVER HERE!" She yelled and waved over to the two other women that walked towards them.
"You have beautiful friends." Steven said.
"That they are." Mariah blushed, she ran to them, linked her arms with each woman and walked back to the waiting male. "You remember Lita from the meteor shower." She gestured to the purple haired woman.
"Nice to see you again." Lita winked.
Steven blushed a little while waving. Mariah nudged Raye. "Her name is Raye. Raye, meet Nevets."
Raye silently waved with her present stoic expression, however a small blush tinted her pale face.
Mariah jumped up and down. "Oh, that reminds me." She gripped Lita's camera and push it in 'Nevets'' hands. "May you take a picture of us please?"
The male raised an eyebrow but then let out a chuckle. "Sure." Mariah smiled and ran back between her friends and relinked her arms. Steven raised the camera and focused on the three women. "Say 'Slateport'."
"Slateport." The trio said as the camera flashed.
After the picture, the group walked into the currently filling seating area. Lita insisted they sit close enough to get beautiful pictures, so they chose seats a few rows from the stage. The purple haired woman checked her camera's clarity and zoom quality. "We're perfect everyone."
"Yaay." Mariah said with a 'thumbs up' gesture.
"Also..." Lita reached in Raye's backpack and pulled out pink pom-poms. "We have been holding down the cheering section since you were gone so do you need these back?"
The red head clenched a pom-pom and smiled. "We ALL need to cheer Jessie on, our girl needs the support."
Raye nodded and silently waved a blue pom-pom. Lita chuckled and snapped a picture of the pale woman.
Mariah turned to 'Nevets'. "How are you feeling?"
"I don't remember the last time I sat in a battle stadium among the audience. Usually as a champion I would get escorted to a VIP section away from the crowd." 'Nevets' shifted a little in his chair.
"Oh no." Mariah held his shoulder. "Are you uncomfortable in the crowd?"
The male chuckled and held her hand. "I'm fine, I actually prefer being down here to feel everyone's adrenaline. Also no one's asking me for an autograph and taking unwanted pictures so that's a plus." He winked and smirked. "Thanks for making me come here."
Mariah turned red. "N-n-no problem."
Raye took a picture with Lita's camera. "Something for her to remember this by." Lita nodded.
Backstage, Jessie was walking towards the stage entrance holding her Kirlia's Poké Ball tighter than ever. 'This is it, not only is this an international stage but this is my comeback.'
The Poké Ball in her hand shook, she glanced at it to see Alice smiling back at her trainer. "You're right Alice; as long as we have fun and trust one another, we'll win this ribbon."
"To do that, you'll have to beat me." Adrian's voice came from behind Jessie, she turned around to feel his finger poking her cheek. The male smirked. "If you fumbled around like you did earlier, I'll snatch away that ribbon from your manicured fingers."
Jessie slapped away his hand. "It wasn't a fumble, why do you and Mya say that?"
"Because it was. That guy was easy on you Glameow, however this is the finals and I want that ribbon just as bad as you do." Adrian walked away from the female and stood in front of a curtain. "Come at me with all you got Jessie, I won't back down."
The magentette's eyes widened, she turned around to face her set of curtains. A smirk then ran over her face and she kissed Alice's Poké Ball. "Game on."
"One hundred coordinators all came here in Hoenn's Slateport city to compete for one prize, tonight we are down to the final 2 and only one will receive the beautiful Aqua ribbon. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS OF ALL AGES, FANS VIEWING FROM TV, INTERNET AND AROUND THE WORLD! WELCOME TO THE FINALS OF THIS YEAR'S WALLACE CUP!" Vivian announced as the crowd cheered on.
The judged sat in their designated seats, Wallace folding his arms and smiling. 'Let's see what you have in store for us tonight, my maiden.'
Vivian continued. "The final two contestants are both competing in the Sinnoh contest circuit and outlasted 98 coordinators, tonight only 1 will be crowned the winner but who will it be? LET'S BRING THEM OUT!"
The stage curtains opened revealing the two coordinators. As they walked towards their places on the battlefield, large cheers and sounds were erupting the arena. Jessie looked around the crowd and saw her group of friends who were shaking pink and blue pom-poms, she smiled and waved to the audience.
The two faced each other and glared daggers at one another. "The sun is down and the black night sky arises, the Wallace cup final battle is about to begin; the time limit is 5 minutes, coordinators…leave everything on this stage tonight. Let this final battle BEGIN!"
Adrian held his Poké Ball which had blue petal seals on it, Jessie held hers which had pink petals. Both threw theirs at the same time releasing their pokémon in a beautiful display of blowing petals. The two pokémon stood at attention very gracefully and smiled at their opponents.
"No chances of counters." Adrian smirked. "Vera, toxic spikes!" The Roselia smiled and danced around the field releasing the purple poisonous barbs around the area, some nearly knocking the still Kirlia however she maintained her regal composure.
"Touch one of those and you'll get poisoned Alice." Jessie warned her partner. "Trying to ensure we can't move is smart however we're fluent in dance. Alice, psyshock!"
Psychic matter began to form around the Kirlia as she gracefully danced around the barbs while also maintaining the forming matter.
"Precision and maintaining focus is one of the key for a successful strategy." Wallace commented.
"Correct, however how long do you think they can hold it for?" Nurse Joy asked.
Alice jumped into the air and released various psychic energy balls towards the Roselia.
Adrian snapped his fingers and pointed to the Kirlia. "Petal blizzard!"
Roselia obeyed and began twirling, releasing many pink petals however they didn't shoot for Kirlia, instead they covered the Roselia as the psychic energy collided with the petals and dispelling them.
"ROSELIA USED HER ATTACK AS A SHIELD FROM HER OPPONENT'S ATTACK!" Vivian commented.
The pink petals disappeared and purple sparkles graced the Roselia's body, both enhancing her beauty and decreasing Jessie's points.
"Is that all you got Jessie?" Adrian asked.
"Don't heckle me yet." Jessie smirked. "I'm just getting started." She raised her arms. "Psychic!"
Kirlia's eyes glowed blue and she mimicked her trainer's movements, the poison barbs on the ground levitated into the air.
Jessie stretched her arms forward. "Fire!" The barbs all shot towards the Roselia colliding with it and forming a dust cloud.
"Get him Jess!" Mariah cheered. "Don't let him catch you slipping!" The other three with her laughed as the battle continued.
The dust cloud disappeared, leaving an unscathed smirking Roselia. "Just remember Glameow, Vera's part poison as well. The toxic spikes won't affect her." Adrian winked.
Jessie blushed from the gesture. "I know already, just clearing out the hazards!" She then pointed to the Roselia. "Psyshock once more!"
Alice formed her psychic matter in her hands however Adrian snapped his fingers once again. "Venoshock."
Roselia raced towards Kirlia and before it could react, the flower pokémon stood before it, gripped its arms and began oozing purple poison, covering its arms.
"Dodge it Alice!" The psychic pokémon released the ball of energy, forcefully pushing them back. Alice covered slightly with poison and Vera recovering from a direct hit chopped both coordinator's points.
Mya looked on backstage. 'They are neck-and-neck, interesting.'
"If those previous barbs hit you, that venoshock would've hurt." Jessie assured her Kirlia. "No chances for a counter attack?"
"Don't want to make a fumble on stage." Adrian's smirk remained on his face. "Vera, toxic spikes followed by Venoshock!"
The Roselia smiled and unleashed a barrage of toxic spikes around the field, some once again aiming for the Kirlia.
"Dodge then Alice!" Jessie commanded. The Kirlia gracefully danced around the oncoming spikes and did another spin to dodge.
"There it is!" Adrian pointed towards the psychic pokémon's feet. "Aim downwards!" Spikes then were shot towards Alice's feet, which she gracefully dodged however she stepped wrong and fell down onto a few spikes.
"Alice!" Jessie screamed as the crowd gasped, Mariah gripped Steven's shirt very hard as they both didn't take their eyes off of the stage, instead he placed his hand over Mariah's.
"Let's go Vera! Venoshock!" As commanded, Roselia unleashed a barrage of venom bombs towards the psychic pokémon and around the arena. Alice became covered in poison and stumbled to stand up.
"ROSELIA HAS TURNED THE ARENA INTO ITS OWN POISONOUS PLAYGROUND!" Vivian said as the crowd cheered on.
Jessie blushed and began to grind her heel into the ground. "This isn't over yet."
Adrian frowned, raised an eyebrow and pointed his thumb towards the score screen. "Well unless you do something within the next two minutes, it will be." His frown then turned back into a sinister smirk. "However I'm not going to let you. Vera, solar beam!"
The Roselia raised its roses and began to absorb light from over the arena and even outside the area.
"Because it's nighttime, Solar beam will take a while to charge." Raye commented.
"She has to think of something before then." Lita added.
"Or else, her points are gone." Steven ended.
"JESSIE!" Mariah shouted.
Mya looked at the monitor in silence.
Jessie closed her eyes and raised her arm towards Alice; "Calm Mind." The poison-covered psychic pokémon mimicked her trainer and meditated. 'Trust me with this Alice.'
Adrian pumped his fist towards his opponent. "Fire!"
The green energy beam aimed towards Kirlia was fired, Jessie's eyes opened. "Spin psychic!"
Kirlia's eye opened and began pirouetting while using her attack to raise the poison from the ground around her, she made a poison tornado-like shield blocking the attack in time and also catching some of the energy into the vortex.
"Using my earlier appeal move against me, smart move Glameow but not smart enough...PETAL BLIZZARD!"
A storm of pink petals aimed itself towards the purple tornado however it only collided and joined the spiral.
"The amount of concentration needed to keep this form is amazing." Mr. Contesta commented in awe.
"Indeed, however how will she use this power? And when?' Wallace asked. "Time is running out"
The magentette closed her eyes. "We practiced this with Aqua's surf and Len's swift, but not at this much power. One shot Alice, let's show them what we got!" She moved her hand and placed it between her face. "Psychic!"
The spinning vortex came to an abrupt halt. The arena was in shock and silence.
"That did not happen." Wallace commented
"That did not happen." Steven said as the three ladies looked on.
Jessie's arm stretched to the left and the petal filled vortex shifted to the left, her arm them moved to the right and the poison formed a loop and moved right. The coordinator twirled around and the poisonous liquid did the same, her arm then stretched to her side. "Disperse with Magical Leaf!"
The poison rotated upwards revealing a clean Kirlia, with her eyes glowing she manifested many glowing leaves and shot them towards the poisonous liquid above her, dissolving most of it and creating a beautiful sparkle shower that rained on her, however the most interesting thing was that the Kirlia pirouetted and maintained a large amount of the poison; mixed with the pink petals and the glowing leaves, it circulated around the psychic pokémon with its psychic move holding it together.
"I can't believe this; THE POISON IS ORBITING AROUND KIRLIA!" Vivian shouted as the arena erupted in shocked cheers.
"She keeps on surprising us with new ideas." Lita took pictures of the psychic pokémon.
"However she need to do something NOW!" Mariah added.
Adrian scoffed. "Nice idea, however it's not going to help you win!" He looked at his Roselia. "Solar beam will take a while to charge so let's end this with beauty." He snapped his fingers towards the Kirlia. "Petal Blizzard, MAX POWER!"
Roselia raised its roses and thousands of pink petals emerged, its power grew in size.
"It was fun my little Glameow, however it's over, FIRE!"
The petals charged towards the Kirlia as like a tidal wave was hitting a shoreline, everyone watching was on edge.
Jessie smirked. "You made a mistake, it's just beginning." She stretched out her right arm while raising the left arm. "Psyshock!"
Kirlia, mirroring her trainer's moves began forming psychic matter in her left paw while maintaining the orbiting poison with her right.
"This is amazing! Kirlia's concentration is impeccable!" Nurse Joy stood up and commented.
"Let's do it Alice, for everyone and for us!" Jessie placed her left arm together with her right. "Psychic!"
Alice launched her psyshock attack with the petal-and-leaf filled poison, combining them and attacking the pink petal tsunami. The collision with psyshock dispelled the petals and the psychic poison absorbed them, all aimed and directly hit Vera in the chest. The Roselia fell to the ground in great force as a loud buzzing sound erupted in the arena.
"TIME IS UP!" Vivian shouted as the audience cheered and clapped.
Adrian helped up his pokémon whom rubbed her head. "Are you ok girl?" Roselia nodded weakly as he smiled to it.
Jessie ran to Alice and caught the pokémon whom stumbled a bit and was sweating heavily. "You did amazing; all that practice was not in vain." She hugged her pokémon. "Thank you for trusting me."
"That was an amazing battle to end the Wallace cup, however there's only one winner and THAT IS..." Vivian announced. Both coordinators looked towards the scoreboard.
Jessie's points were literally a tenth left and Adrian's points were completely gone. "JESSIE MUSASHI!"
The crowd screamed, cheered and clapped; Lita took many pictures, Raye and Mariah shook their pom-poms while cheering on, Mya and the other coordinators clapped their hands.
Jessie looked onto the screen in shock and began crying. Kirlia jumped in her trainer's arms and kissed her cheeks many times. "W-we did it Alice! We won!"
"Yes you did." Adrian walked over to the magentette. "You literally came at me with everything, I can't ask for a better battle than this." He stretched his hand over to her. "You earned it." Jessie took his hand and stood up as he kissed the back of her hand.
"Now the contest master Wallace will present the ribbon to the winner!"
The cheers increased in volume as Wallace walked over to the pair with a white box. Adrian walked off the stage as Jessie turned over to the contest master.
"Out of the one hundred contestants, you have surprised me every time you have stepped onto the stage. You worked hard and earned this with your heart and trust with your pokémon." Wallace opened the box and the Aqua ribbon beamed beautifully in Jessie's face, she took it and smiled.
"Thank You so much." She kissed the ribbon and posed with it. "I got the Aqua ribbon!" Alice cheered.
"AND THAT'S A WRAP FOR THIS YEAR'S WALLACE CUP! CONGRAGULATIONS TO OUR WINNER, JESSIE MUSASHI! TO ALL OF OUR FANS AND VIEWERS, SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! VIVIAN SIGNING OFF!"
Photographers and newscasters alike rushed the stage to interview and photo Jessie after her win; she smiled and took each one of them on.
After talking to so many people, Wallace walked up to Jessie. "My lady, that was an impeccable performance."
Jessie curtsied. "Thank you so much sir."
"As the winner, you will have an interview scheduled with Mauville TV tomorrow morning in Mauville City and the there's an after party in Sootopolis city for all the contestants, however it's more of a networking party if I'm being honest." Wallace handed Jessie two envelopes. "Here's your invites for both events and you're free to bring anyone to the event with you. Sorry I'm dropping so many things onto you after your win."
"It's no problem sir." Jessie commented with a smile. "I can do these perfectly."
"Amazing, we'll have more time to talk tomorrow in Sootopolis." Wallace touched Jessie's hand and raised it to his lips to kiss the back of it. "Until then my maiden." He walked away as Jessie held her kissed hand.
She was then bombarded with hugs and squeals.
"I knew you could do it Jess! Congrats!" Mariah screamed and hugged her friend.
"You were amazing and also in your element." Raye commented. "Very beautiful I must add."
"I got a lot of amazing pictures, I'll show you after I go through them." Lita said smiling.
"Thank you all, it wasn't easy." Jessie looked over to see Adrian and Mya walking over. She released herself from the hugs and ran towards her rivals, linking her arms with each person, she smiled. "If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't get my ribbon and also major bragging rights for the rest of the trip."
Mya rolled her eyes as Adrian chuckled. "Just you wait Glameow, the next major stage is the Grand Festival and I'm not holding back there."
"Agreed." Mya added. "I'm not heading there to lose by you two again. Stay on your pretty toes because I'm coming for you both."
Jessie just smirked and walked towards the rest of her friends while linked with her rivals, another photographer asked for a photo with her, Mya and Adrian together. After the taken photo, the magentette felt a hand on her shoulder; the photographer handed her an envelope and left without saying another word.
"Weird." Jessie opened the note. "Meet me underneath the great tree in Sootopolis when the moon reaches the center of the city's lake." The magentette raised her eyebrow. "What?"
Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah to everyone, see you all in the new decade! 2020 here we come!