Ah, the Pokemon world...a place filled with wonders both man made and naturally occuring. As is fitting for such a vast landscape, there are people from all walks of life working with their Pokemon partners...
Our particular story begins in the lovely Sinnoh region, in Hearthome City's Contest Hall.
A brunette girl drags her feet as she exits the tunnel dead last as she cradles a rather discouraged Pichu in her hands.
"Well, we tried at least..."
"Chu..." the mouse Pokemon turned away, presumably to sulk.
"Rough day, huh?" The young lady looked up to the sympathetic eyes of the clerk at the counter.
"Yeah, kinda."
"Well, don't worry. You'll get 'em next time, right?"
"Right," the girl replied, her mood a bit lifted.
It was at that moment that her Rotom Phone began to ring.
"Call from Spencer... Call from Spencer..."
Giving the clerk an apologetic look, she made her way to the nearest seat to take the call, leaving the Electric type to recline next to her.
Pulling up a video feed, she was somewhat shocked to not see the eldest of the Shay household on the line, but his rather artsy assistant, Smeargle.
"Smear! Smeargle!"
The girl could barely hold in her laughter. "Put Spence on the line, already, Smeargle!"
The creature nodded enthusiastically and rectified the situation, and its owner's clay caked face promptly took up the screen.
"Carlaaa..." Spencer intentionally held the note until someone from offscreen yelled at him to stop.
"Hey, Spence."
"So, Carly, how'd the Contest go? I wish I could do some region-hopping and head over..."
Carly's less than ecstatic change in expression must've shown. "Hey, cheer up, Carls. You can't win 'em all..."
Carly gave her brother an exasperated look. "When was the last time actually won one? Can you remember?"
Spencer opened and closed his mouth, clearly looking for an answer that would never come.
"Maybe you should take a break from contests, for now. try something fresh."
Carly seemed lost in thought until someone offscreen called for Spencer.
"Sorry, kiddo, but I've gotta go," Spencer said before giving her sister a strangely serious look. "Carls, Mom wouldn't want you moping around like this. She would love you no matter what you went on to do."
"Thanks."
Spencer smiled brightly once again. "No problem. That's what brothers are for. Now, I gotta get back to sculpting before they really get on me. Take care of everybody. See ya!"
Ending the call, she sat back and considered her brother's words. Maybe a new start would be good for her. Contests both in Hoenn and Sinnoh hadn't exactly panned out. Maybe she should come back to this...
Fishing in her bag, she finds a certain Poké Ball and tosses it, with the bright light revealing a small green and white Pokémon with a single red horn.
The Pokémon's horn glowed as it sensed the emotions of its companions. Mirroring the group's feelings, it soon had its head down, too, until it felt its trainer's hand on it.
"You know, maybe I need to do something other than Contests. What do you think, Ralts?"
"Ralts," it seemed to agree. Out of her two friends, only Pichu seemed too interested in Pokémon Contests. Ralts always would rather remain in its ball. Battling, on the other hand...
The coordinator gave The Feeling Pokémon a knowing look and smiled. "You want to go out and fight some wild Roselia, don't you?"
"Ralts," the creature said, practically rushing out the door after getting off the couch. Its trainer followed it, shaking her head in a happy sort of disbelief.
It seems like no defeat is ever truly one as long as you have friends and family by your side...
The smallest of cameras, adorned with an "R", flits about the lobby completely unnoticed.
...as the journey continues.