Hey, everyone! Long, time no see!
Our apologies for the huge delay – a number of real-life complications have kept us from writing for quite a while. We can assure this story will reach its conclusion, even if it takes a bit. I'll try to get back to writing when possible, to deliver on Another Road's final stretch!
We really hope you enjoy the Grand Festival's finale! Please leave your feedback and commentary, if you have the chance. Thanks for reading!
The Grand Festival - a long awaited, annual event, where pokemon and their trainers put their charm and skills on display. An arena where only the best are allowed to compete, narrowed down to only Pokemon Coordinators who had earned five ribbons.
A guaranteed spectacle, overflowing with excitement, determination, and beauty.
Greater still, was the Grand Festival's final round.
A bout between the competition's two greatest coordinators, and four of their talented pokemon.
A clash that was sure to bring out the wild excitement and wonder of the audience, near and far.
In this instant, however, the stadium was deathly silent. Tension permeated the battlefield, where a clear advantage was held between two great coordinators.
With three minutes left, Glenda held a lead over her younger opponent, Dawn, two-thirds to one half.
Empoleon and Togekiss had been grounded, and inflicted with a burn.
Glenda tilted her head up, raising a brow at Dawn. Was this the beginning of a downward spiral? Or, did the girl still have more tricks up her sleeve?
"Come on, Dawn…" Ash leaned forward, gnashing his teeth in frustration.
"This is looking bad," Misty spoke. "I hope this isn't getting under Dawn's skin."
"Hm." Brock hummed, nodding in agreement. "Despite all of her obstacles right now, flimsy morale would be the worst of them all."
~C'mon, Ma!~ Rosa cheered, waving a fist in the air.
"You can do this! It's not over yet!" Ash stood up, shaking his fists in the air. "Don't give up!"
"Pikaaa! Pikachu!" Pikachu yelled, standing atop Ash's head to wave his fans wildly.
~You can do it, Ma!~
A familiar, scratchy voice rang in Dawn's psyche, snapping her back to reality. 'Rosa's cheering up there for us… and if she is, everyone else must be, too!' Dawn smirked, standing up straight. 'We won't let them down! No time to fret, now!'
"Hmph." Glenda scowled, sliding a hand into her coat pocket. Breaking the silence, she shouted. "Persian, dear, use Aerial Ace! Dusknoir, Shadow Punch!"
"Get ready, you two," Dawn warned.
"Pol!" Empoleon nodded, leaning into a battle-ready stance.
"Kiss!" Togekiss spanned her wings.
Persian sprung off of its hind legs, soaring high into the air with acrobatic grace.
Dusknoir followed, holding one open fist forward. A bleak shadow fired from the extremity, creeping up behind its target.
"What's this!? Shadow Punch doesn't seem to be heading for Dawn's pokemon at all!"
Shadow Punch's bleak fog snuck up on the pouncing Persian, swallowing him whole.
"She's using it on Persian!?" Dawn exclaimed.
Persian's pale, lustrous coat mutated into a dark grey vapor. His gleaming claws and fangs sprouted into gaseous extremities, and Persian's thin, cautious eyes became a gleaming, all-encompassing red.
The ghoulish feline fell into a sharp dive, plummeting towards the arena floor. Pulling up into a sharp turn, it shot towards Empoleon and Togekiss, zig-zagging left and right with no rhyme or reason.
Dawn's points took another hit, dropping noticeably below half.
"How the heck is she doing that!?" Ash exclaimed.
"One can only wonder," Brock replied. "But, if I had to guess, she's combining the flying-type power of Aerial Ace with Shadow Punch's ghost qualities to grant Persian a greater control of its flight path, and a terrifying appearance, to boot."
"And, it being a normal type means it's not at any risk to take damage from it…" Ash swallowed heavily. "Glenda's strong… really strong. Hang in there, Dawn."
"They're just showing off one trick after another… Glenda really knows how to hold stage presence." Dawn's lips pulled into a smirk. "So, we'll just have to show her our own way of taking the spotlight! Empoleon, Togekiss, charge in and spin!"
"Pol!" Empoleon sprinted at the incoming feline, putting his proud crown first and foremost.
"Kiss!" Togekiss flapped her snow-white wings, speeding forward with grace.
Persian howled, striking with each of its shrouded forelegs.
Empoleon leapt forward, and tucked in his wings to his portly body. Leaning beak-first, he twisted into a lean and bold barrel roll. The emanating fog leaking from Persian's strike brushed his polished wings, but nothing more.
Togekiss cooed, awaiting the incoming strike. Gaseous claws struck at her, and she dipped, belly nearly to the floor. She leaned to her left, turning into an easy, carefree spin.
Dawn smiled widely at the results. "Nice job!" Suddenly struck cold with horror, she shrieked.
The menacing feline had missed his targets. But, he wasn't about to go this round without a heart-stopping fright. Pulling to a short stop, the shadow hovered above the girl, masking her from the sun's generous rays.
As quickly as it'd come, it passed the trainer, whipping around for another airborne charge towards its true targets.
"Phew…" Dawn clutched her chest. 'I think my heart just skipped a beat, there…'
"Unconventional, but oh-so-frightening! Even one of our competitors is awestruck by Persian's haunting!"
Dawn's points chipped away, again.
"Darn it…" Dawn felt her face heat in shame. "I can't believe I fell for that… And, it's on its way back!" Dawn steadied her gaze, brows furrowed, and resumed. "Empoleon, use Whirlpool on the ground, in front of you!"
"Pol!" Empoleon acknowledged, raising his wings above his head. Conjuring a raging Whirlpool, he howled, vigorously throwing his wings down to guide it.
Whirlpool crashed into the solid ground, bursting into a roaring, parting wave. "Empoleon, out of the way," Dawn coached. "Togekiss, it's your turn!"
"Empol!" Looking over his shoulder, Empoleon spotted Persian, and lurched to the side.
Togekiss took flight, sailing low above ground, into the parting waves that framed her flight. Cool mist rained down atop the Jubilee pokemon, making her coo with glee. In the middle of an exhausting battle, this felt so refreshing!
She was sure to glide along the surface of the water, breaking into a veritable water ballet, in the midst of the match.
"Oh, but look at Togekiss! It looks like she's having the time of her life, in what's left of Whirlpool!"
Persian, meanwhile, scrambled to stop short. Alas, a cresting wave crashed into him, washing the feline aside. His ghastly coat was swept away with it, returning him to his normal state.
Glenda's points subsequently took a hit.
"Now, let's just hope this move's ready to work…" Dawn silently prayed, and shouted, "Safeguard!"
"Kiss~!" Togekiss sang, bathing herself and her surroundings in a glittering emerald glow. The dying waves about her absorbed Safeguard's glow, shining brilliantly, before dispersing into a bright green mist.
"It worked!" Dawn happily exclaimed.
"Check it out! It's gorgeous!" Ash cheered, smiling widely. "Way to go, Dawn!"
"It really is," Misty mused, her eyes glimmering with awe. "It reminds me of the glow of Shamouti Island's fountains…"
Ash turned to Misty, tilting his head. "Huh… y'know, you're right!" Beaming with pride, he returned his eyes to the action.
Glenda's points dropped to half her original score.
"Hmph. Definitely a fortunate turn, for them all." Glenda narrowed her eyes, watching the Jubilee pokemon's approach. "Be on guard!"
"Now, Togekiss!" Dawn called. "Up towards Dusknoir!"
Leaving the fading mist behind, Togekiss shot into a steep climb, stopping just short of the Gripper pokemon.
Dawn grinned, and gestured with an open hand. "Fire Blast!"
With narrowed eyes, Togekiss focused her power, spanning her wings at length. "Kiss!" She howled, blasting Dusknoir with a huge, blazing star.
Dusknoir groaned out in pain, ensnared in overwhelming heat. He fell back from the impact point, weary.
"Sky Attack!" Dawn ordered.
Fire Blast's explosive glow bathed Togekiss in orange and red hues, mixing in with Sky Attack's building might. The motherly pokemon shone like a distant, vibrant nova, humming a beautiful tune.
Glenda's points dropped to match Dawn's.
"Dusknoir," Deidra commanded, "use Hex!"
Still descending from ashes and embers, the cyclops surrounded himself in a thick, inky violet aura. "Clops!" He echoed, the glow of his singular eye projecting into the air above. Violet whips and tendrils sprouted from a blue ring containing a menacing red eye, lashing out towards Togekiss.
"It recovered that fast!?" Dawn looked on in horror.
Togekiss yelped, pulling back. Nearly immobile, with Sky Attack building, she found herself snagged in Hex's vicious aura. "Kiss!" She protested, yanked into the center of Hex. A searing pain overtook her senses, making the fairy type cry out. Her burn was yanked to the surface by Hex's ghastly influence, exploding suddenly.
Togekiss tumbled from the fiery aftermath, crashing into the field below.
Dawn's score dropped to just a third.
"Togekiss!" Dawn called out, her brows stitched low with worry.
"Hey, hang in there!" Empoleon cawed out to Togekiss in distress. "You can still get up, right!?"
"I'd… I'd love to give you my full confidence, dear…" Togekiss winced, propping herself up on her wing. Heat still bothered her nerves, and she collapsed with a cry. "But, I'm afraid I'm not looking my best today… pity; the final battle of all things. I hoped to serve Lady Dawn better."
"No, no, no!" Empoleon cried. "You're not done, yet! Mark my words!"
Dawn watched her score drop to roughly one third of her bar. Two minutes were left on the clock.
"This is looking bleak," Dawn muttered, "but, it's my job to get it rolling again!"
Suddenly, Empoleon squawked, overcome with flames. His burn had struck again.
Across the field, Glenda's gaze zeroed in on Empoleon. "Persian, Aerial Ace, please!"
Back on his feet from his last attempt, Persian grinned. Like a true animal of prey, he was thrilled to lunge at a weakened opponent, and cut them down to size.
"Now!" Dawn shouted, her eyes bold, and her voice resolute. "Togekiss, now's the time to use that power you've gathered! Air Slash, between those two!"
"Toge!" Togekiss responded dutifully, raising a wing. She was pained, but the glow of a Sky Attack that was never to be still encompassed her. Whipping the length of her wing around, she howled, stirring up a wild, howling swirl of air currents. "Toge… kiss!"
With her valiant comrade in dire straits, Togekiss cast her aid.
Persian lit with Aerial Ace's glow, striking at Empoleon.
Below him, Air Slash's dueling winds were set free.
A wind tunnel erupted under Persian, knocking the wind out of the feline. Persian recoiled, scrambling to regain his bearings. Solid ground was far beneath him, as he'd been yanked into the air by the swirling pressure below.
With raging winds bursting beneath his feet, Empoleon bravely rose, balancing his weight between his wings.
As gasps of awe and cheers of excitement rolled in from the audience, Glenda's points chipped away a bit.
"Well, I'll be…" Glenda's aging eyes widened at the spectacle unfolding before her. Dawn had truly caught her by surprise - the smirk on the girl's face told her that she was aware.
Hopefully, truly, she didn't think that was enough.
"Persian," the woman commanded, "Aerial Ace!"
Quite mortified at the way he was flailing about, Persian turned himself upright, as a feline always did. Face to face with the penguin, he grinned. "Not bad at all, bird. It's a shame I have to deny you your victory!"
Empoleon raised his guard. "Keep dreaming!"
"Empoleon," Dawn called out, "Swords Dance!"
Persian lunged, striking at Empoleon.
The winds of Air Slash guided Empoleon's every move, and he followed their lead. Leaning his weight on one wing, he twirled right of Persian.
The cat missed entirely, craning his neck to regain sight of his foe. It was about time he took advantage of the guiding gust. Leaning back, he fell into a backwards somersault. Tumbling towards Empoleon, his coiled tail lashed out.
Empoleon continued to walk on air, pivoting aside in a passionate, practiced dance. Whirling his plated wings around like blades, he collected his fighting spirit. Persian struck at him again, and he pivoted, swatting his formidable foe's paw away. Dodging yet again, he grinned at Persian.
"What grace! What showmanship, what power!" Empoleon is using the wind tunnel created by Togekiss to dance on air, avoiding Persian entirely!"
"Oh, it's like a water ballet!" Misty cooed, linking her fingers in adoration. "Only, you know, not in water…"
"She's getting the most out of that Air Slash," Brock remarked. "It saved Empoleon from Persian's first strike, and now it's allowing him to look graceful while he's using Swords Dance."
"And, with all that power building up…" Ash smirked, leaning forward in his seat. "Dawn'll be able to finish it in one go!"
~She better,~ Rosa yipped, ~there ain't much time left!~
"Dawn'll make it work," Ash answered. "She always does!"
Glenda's points chipped away to match Dawn's.
"Just a bit more…!" Dawn watched her partner pokemon dodge his opponent with grace, tipping the tides in their favor. Her fists were clenched painfully tight at her sides. They had this in the bag!
"...Hmph." Glenda pursed her lips. "Shadow Punch!"
Persian whirled around and raised a paw to strike.
Empoleon laid his weight on a wing again, ready to twirl. A sudden searing pain erupted, flames bursting around him. Caught in the wrath of his burn, Empoleon cried out.
A ghoulish fist passed through Persian, smashing into Empoleon's hide. Pressing through the dying wind tunnel, Shadow Punch drove Empoleon into the ground.
"Empoleon!" Dawn cried out.
"Pol…" Empoleon groaned, supporting himself on one wing.
Dawn's score had dropped to a quarter of her bar.
'I've got to do something about Dusknoir…' Dawn turned her focus to the hovering ghoul. 'I can probably handle Persian on its own, but with it backing him up…'
Glenda continued her onslaught. "Persian, Power Gem!"
Falling from his heights, Persian fired a dazzling red blast from his gem.
"But, first!" Dawn held a closed fist to her chest, and held out hope. "Empoleon, Steel Wing!"
Still sitting, Empoleon rushed to raise his free wing, in the face of blinding light. The plated flipper was coated in shimmering metal, reinforced by a tough outer shell.
He felt the concussive force of Power Gem crashing into the steel surface, and recoiled.
He was stronger than this. He was definitely stronger than this!
"Em-pol!" Empoleon forced the blast aside with a swipe of his wing. Shining red bullets pulverized the field in a series of small explosions.
Dawn and Glenda's points were, once again, equal. One minute and fifteen seconds remained.
"Togekiss, let's go!" Dawn gestured a hand forward. "Sky Attack!"
"Kiss!" Togekiss flapped her wings, taking flight. A soft glow emanated from her snow-white feathers, gathering from the Jubilee pokemon's remaining strength.
Glenda scowled. "A late bit of advice - Repeated mistakes aren't rewarded on the contest stage. Dusknoir, Hex!"
Dusknoir launched another glowering eye towards Togekiss.
"We're not making any mistakes, from here on out!" Dawn shouted, raising a hand above her head. "Empoleon, give Togekiss a Whirlpool!"
Empoleon rushed to his feet, standing tall beneath Togekiss. "Empolll!" He cried with an increasingly higher pitch, stirring up a rushing Whirlpool around Togekiss. Lashing waters crashed into the incoming Hex, guarding the glimmering serenity, within.
Streaks of light shone from Whirlpool's turning waters, creating a blinding spinning prism.
"How beautiful!" Misty praised. "Now, that's how you use water's beauty to your advantage!"
"I know they're gearing up for something big." Ash stood up in his seat, punching above his head. "Do it, Dawn!"
Pikachu scrambled to Ash's shoulder, waving one of his fans. "Pika-ka, Pikachu!"
"That's it!" Dawn lit up with excitement, sporting a grin. The preparation was perfect! Now for the execution… Gesturing dramatically with her open hand tossed forward, Dawn shouted her command. "Go!"
"Empolll!" Empoleon reared his wings back overhead, burdening his full control of Whirlpool. With his graceful teammate's fate quite literally in his hands, he threw Whirlpool with all of his might.
Togekiss watched the water surrounding her uncoil, and took that as her cue. 'Very well… I'll give it my all!' Practically overflowing with stored power, she exerted it, propelling into the air with all of her might.
Whirlpool stretched into an arc above the stage, forming a twisting aquatic tunnel. A bright light shone from within, casting its radiance through many ribbons of white along the water's outer surface, not unlike the sun's rays reflecting off of the sea's rippling waves, on a particularly sunny day.
In this instance, Togekiss, in all of her grace, was the sun.
"Even I'm getting nervous, here!" Johanna chuckled, clawing at her sofa cushion.
"Mrow." Glameow hopped onto the couch beside her trainer, curling up to watch the action unfold.
"Glenda's every bit as good as I remember… but, Dawn's done a good job keeping up, albeit with a few mistakes." She absently pet Glameow, watching her daughter's combination unfold on camera.
Whirlpool shone in a beautiful arch over the fray, giving birth to a faint rainbow that hung in the mist around the move. The tail of the arch gave away, and only a smaller spiral surrounding Togekiss remained. Colorful commentary from Lilian blared from the television, but it went unnoticed.
Tears began to pool up in the mother's eyes. "Still, she's grown so much… even beyond her first Grand Festival." There was a lot to be said for the time she'd spent with Ash and his friends.
"Good luck, Dawn."
Wings formed from rushing water spanned from Togekiss' veil, leaving a trail of rainbow mist behind. By the time the attack had reached its visual apex, its target was within sights.
Catching on, Glenda gasped. "Dusknoir!"
The Gripper pokemon had no time to prepare.
Colorful waves crashed into the specter, swallowing the field in a blinding explosion.
No one dared utter a sound, as the all-consuming shine began to die out, leaving colorful mist in its wake.
Dawn winced, brushing wayward bangs away from her eyes. "Togekiss…"
Empoleon and Persian stood opposite of one another, motionless.
Dusknoir laid on the arena floor, sprawled out.
"Kiss…" Togekiss rolled onto her back with barely a whisper, showing the faintest hint of a smile. She'd done her duty.
"Togekiss and Dusknoir are both unable to battle! With forty-five seconds left on the clock, this final round is coming down to the wire!"
Dawn's attention turned to the scoreboard. Her score was barely a fraction of the bar.
Glenda's was significantly lower.
She met eyes with Empoleon. Pokemon and trainer alike smiled, nodding their heads in understanding. It was time for their final push.
"Aerial Ace!"
Persian lunged at Empoleon, starting his attack with several acrobatic flips.
"Steel Wing," Dawn countered.
"Pol!" Empoleon wielded his wing like a blade, and struck.
Persian felt solid steel crash against his claws. Growling, he disengaged, before lunging directly at Empoleon.
"Block that!" Dawn urged.
Empoleon complied, crossing his sturdy wings over his chest.
Gliding on the light of Aerial Ace, Persian passed over Empoleon's head, missing him completely.
"What!?" Dawn stammered.
Landing on his front paws, Persian kicked his hind legs into Empoleon's back.
The water-type squawked, stumbling forward. Irritated he'd been made a fool of, Empoleon squawked, and swung behind him.
A hissing fervor of pain overcame him. Flames hissed, inflicting yet another burn.
Persian grinned, taking the opportunity to tackle Empoleon.
"Now, Persian!" Glenda commanded. "Power Gem!"
"No…" Dawn muttered, watching her starter fumble in horror. "Empoleon, Whirlpool!"
He couldn't see his opponent. But, that was an order he could follow. "Empollll!" Empoleon screeched. A rolling, roaring tide wrapped around his regal form, hiding him in plain sight.
Glenda's points were approaching but a sliver.
The pink luster of Power Gem tore through Whirlpool, spraying glittering red mist about.
At the epicenter, Empoleon stood, his wings crossed over his chest. A pale white aura coated him, restrained only by his stubborn will.
"Empoleon is still standing! But, what's he up to, now!?"
"Is that…?" Brock squinted, leaning forward to get a look at the Emperor pokemon.
"He's using Bide!?" Ash blurted out, standing up. "So, that's why we haven't seen a fourth move, until now."
"Isn't it a little late in the game for that!?" Misty duck her nails into her palms, frantic. "And, she's ahead in points!"
"Talk about a gamble…." Brock grimaced. "I hope she knows what she's doing."
"She does." A smirk crossed Ash's lips. One of understanding. "I've been in the spot she's in, right now. With an opponent like that, you have to be sure your trump card's gonna blow them out of the water."
"That's an awfully bold move," Glenda warned. 'One that could make or break this battle.' With her score dangerously low, that left the veteran only with the option to take the offensive. She could either risk Bide's wrath, or lose by point count.
It was reckless. But, it was calculated.
Glenda's hand had been forced.
"Twenty seconds left!"
"Aerial Ace!"
A surge of pain struck Empoleon's armored chest, as he took the incoming assault like a sitting duck. He tumbled backwards, refusing to lose his composure.
"Power Gem!" Glenda shouted.
Persian roared, hitting Empoleon with a dazzling blast.
"Come on…. Come on, Empoleon!" Ash roared, waving a fist in the air. "Just one more push!"
"Pika-Pika-Pikachu! Pika Pika!" Pikachu stood atop Ash's head, dancing his little heart out. "You can do it!"
~Do it, big bro!~ Rosa voiced, yipping loudly.
"Hang in there!" Misty prayed, clasping her hands in hope.
Even Brock's composure couldn't be contained. Jumping out of his seat, he shouted. "You can do it, Dawn!"
"Pol!" Empoleon groaned, collapsing onto one knee. Gritting his teeth, he struggled against fatigued muscles and sore limbs. He was close… so close…! If he could just hold together…
But, he could barely stand.
Doubt brewed in the pokemon's soul, weighing him down, in body and spirit.
Watching her starter pokemon, Dawn bit her lip. "There's a reason I bet everything on Bide," Dawn responded, staring down Glenda. "The day I met Empoleon, he protected me with that move. That was when we became friends - and, that's how we're going to achieve our dreams!"
The colorless aura that made Empoleon a beacon intertwined with a bold aquatic blue. In his most dire straits, he'd activated Torrent.
His fighting spirit screamed at his failing body, forcing him to stand. He wasn't alone.
Less than ten seconds remained.
"This is it!" Dawn shouted, gesturing with a hand held outward. "Empoleon, let's take that spotlight! Use Steel Wing!"
Metal-plated wings extended like wielded blades, trembling with a sudden, overwhelming surge of power, built from the stubborn resilience of Bide. Steel Wing's silver coat exploded, blooming into a marvelous, and terrifying sight.
Collective gasps and calls of awe rolled in from the audience, as gigantic silver wings grew from Empoleon, each glistening with sparkling blue and silver splendor, dwarfing their gallant user.
Glenda looked on, not daring to breathe. In fact, she couldn't even find words.
"Empollllll!" Empoleon howled to the sky - a siren song, for this Grand Festival. He lunged.
With an agile, full-body spin, the monstrous silver wing carved through the sky, leaving a billowing aura in its wake. Crossing the field in but a moment, it struck a wholly unprepared Persian.
A streak of light flashed across the battlefield. Powerful winds kicked up a great cloud of dust, before quickly decimating it.
"And, we're out of time! And, the winner is…"
The spectacle was dying down. All eyes turned to Lilian.
All, except for Dawn.
She stared at the scoreboard, with bated breath. Her fingers were digging into her palms. 'Did we make it?'
Glenda tucked a hand into her jacket pocket. Her eyes didn't wander to the screen, once.
Dawn's points were barely a sliver on the screen.
Glenda's bar was completely empty.
"...Dawn, from Twinleaf Town!"
Deafening applause overtook the crowd, drowning out Lilian's voice. Roaring applause and excitement rolled through the dome, like a tidal wave.
Dawn's jaw had dropped. She'd hardly noticed the commotion, around her. It was still sinking in.
She'd… won.
She won.
She really won!
"Empoleon!" Tears falling freely, she sprinted to her partner, catching him right as he'd collapsed. In all of the fervor, she succumbed to Empoleon's weight, both toppling over.
It wasn't the most graceful scene - certainly not on the advent of her victory.
But, nuzzling into her starter's cheek, Dawn really couldn't care less. "We did it… we did it, Empoleon!"
"Pol…" A weak squawk was his answer. Eyes half-lidded, he shook his head to pull himself together. He was battered, beaten, burned, and tired… and yet, he'd won.
They'd beaten Glenda - they'd won a Grand Festival!
"Pol!" Empoleon sobbed, throwing his arms around Dawn.
"You were fantastic," Dawn cooed.
"Woo-hooooo! You did it, Dawn!" Ash whooped loudly from the crowd, standing atop his seat.
"Piiiika! Pi-Pikachu!" Pikachu whooped, waving his fans frantically. That was incredible!
"Alright! Whoo!" Misty whopped, lifting Rosa into a one-armed hug, as both cheered their hearts out.
~Y'did it, Ma! Way to go, Empoleon! Whooo!~ Rosa yipped loudly, waving her free paw. She could hardly be bothered by the commotion, right now. Next to Dawn's victory, it was all but a blur.
Brock watched his friends cheering their hearts out, and snorted. Oh, what the heck. "Way to go!" He shouted with a laugh, waving to the stage.
"And, now, Dawn will be presented with her trophy, as well as the title of Top Coordinator, by our host and guest judge, Marina!"
"Congratulations, Dawn!" The twin-tailed idol presented the large, golden trophy, flashing a camera-worthy smile. "It's our hope that you accept this trophy, and wear your title with pride!"
Dawn accepted the trophy into her arms, cradling it with pride. Fighting back tears of joy, Dawn nodded, wearing a glowing smile. "Thank you, so much! I definitely will!"
Roaring applause filled the dome for Dawn. Even still, she could only stare at the polished decoration in her arms. Her first Top Coordinator cup…
"I'm sure I speak for all of us, when I say that we hope to see more from you, in the future! After that dazzling performance, it'd be a shame if we didn't get to see your pokemon at work, again!" Marina cooed, winking at Dawn. (Though, somehow, Dawn felt that wink was for the crowd around them; ever the idol.)
"No need to worry!" Dawn beamed, shaking her head. "A great friend once told me, 'it's a coordinator's job to make their pokemon shine.' So, keep your eyes peeled, and you'll see more of them, in the future!" Dawn winked, flashing a 'victory' sign to the crowd.
"With that," Lilian resumed, "This year's Grand Festival has come to an end! To all of our other competitors out there, don't give up hope, and make sure to sign up for the next contest season!"
She couldn't keep herself from smiling, gazing into her distorted reflection in the brilliant, gold surface of her prize. Top Coordinator, Dawn Tsumura… That was her title, now.
Poor Empoleon had barely been awake for the moment, collapsing shortly after the trophy had entered her arms. He'd stubbornly made it to witness her crowning… stubborn as he ever was.
But, she couldn't truly admire it without him, here. As soon as Nurse Joy was finished with him and Togekiss, she'd share it with her team. Her wonderful, talented companions.
"Dawn!"
"Huh?" Dawn tore herself away from eyeing her trophy. It was Ash, Misty, Brock, Rosa, and Pikachu!
"Congratulations!" Misty cooed.
"Way to go," Brock agreed.
"Pika-chuuu!"
Ash didn't waste a moment, sprinting towards Dawn. Pikachu quickly, and wisely abandoned ship.
"You did it!" Ash hollered, making Dawn yelp as he scooped her up into a tight hug, before spinning her around.
"A-ash!?" Dawn stammered. "The trophy!" Holding the prize by just one of its handles, Dawn watched it flail around in horror. She'd just gotten that thing!
~I got it, Ma!~ Rosa jumped into action, snatching the trophy safely out of Dawn's hand.
"Man, oh man, you did it!" Ash laughed, nuzzling his cheek into Dawn's. "You were amazing!"
"Thanks, Ash," Dawn smiled politely. "But, you're making me dizzy…!"
"Oh, sorry." Ash steadied himself, and set Dawn down, planting his hands on her shoulders. His chocolate hues were still glimmering with pride. "I just can't help myself - you put on a hell of a show, Top Coordinator."
Looking smug, Dawn pointed a finger squarely in Ash's face. "That's Miss Top Coordinator, to you."
The raven-haired young man laughed, raising his hands in defense. "Yes, ma'am."
"I think I'm gonna hurl," Misty whispered to Brock with a roll of her eyes.
Brock smiled, shaking his head. "You should be proud of yourself, Dawn. You really worked yourself out of a tough spot - and, with plenty of style!"
~Yeah! Y'had me scared to death for a minute, there!~ Rosa whined, clutching Dawn's pink jacket with her free paw.
"To be honest, I was scared, too." Dawn ruffled the fur on Rosa's head, accepting her trophy back from the Lucario. "But, there was no way I'd make it that far, just to choke on the final stage!"
"That Bide was a real nail-biter," Misty remarked. "But, it paid off beautifully!"
"No risk, no reward, right? I just wish Togekiss was awake, to see the end…"
"You know these events are all over television," Brock reminded. "I'm sure there's a good recording somewhere. Heck, I'm sure all your pokemon will want to see it!"
"You're so right!" Dawn cooed. "It's a shame that more than a team's worth of pokemon competed - I can't show them all at once."
"You'll have time for that," Ash replied. "First, ain't there someone you wanna call about your victory?" He winked.
"...Oh! Mom!" Dawn's eyes went wide. She sprinted for the video phone without a second thought, carrying her trophy with her.
Ash felt a familiar weight on his shoulder, and looked to Pikachu. The two exchanged a belly-laugh and a look of amusement. Some things never changed.
She tapped her boots anxiously on the tiled floor as the dial rang, barely able to contain herself. While waiting for the Top Coordinator, among Top Coordinators, every passing second felt like an hour. Sure, she'd stepped out of her mother's shadow and formed her own identity.
But, a child couldn't help but want a parent's approval.
"Oh, Dawn!" Johanna's face appeared on-screen. "I didn't expect to hear from you, so soon."
"Are you kidding? I had to call!" Grinning from ear to ear, Dawn held her trophy up in front of her. "Check it out, Mom! I told you I'd make it!"
"I saw it on TV, dear," Johanna lightly reminded. She couldn't help herself from smiling, either. "Congratulations! You certainly kept to your word."
"I finally made it to being a Top Coordinator… right up there with you, Mom!" Dawn sniffled, feeling tears build up in her eyes. Her big moment, and she was choking up…
"I'm proud of you, Dawn." Johanna dabbed under her eyes with a handkerchief, clearly feeling sentimental, herself. Dawn wiped her eyes to make sure they weren't deceiving her - she could probably count the amount of times she'd seen her mom cry on one hand!
"You've really formed your own identity on the contest stage. I remember when the slightest upset would throw you off your game, and fluster you. Just now, under the worst type of pressure, you stuck to your guns. Your pokemon saw that, and because of that, they had the confidence to perform at their best."
"Of course!" Dawn squeaked, rubbing the back of her head. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but-"
"Everyone is nervous on the final stage, no matter what anyone may tell you. But, no one else will see that, if you don't let them. What I saw…" Smiling, Johanna shook her head, blotting her eyes again. She must've gotten soft. "...what I saw, was your pokemon showing off their best attributes. To think that gallant Empoleon used to be a bratty Piplup."
"He's still kind of bratty," Dawn chuckled. "But, he has grown up a lot. Being around Ash, Pikachu, and the others has been great for him."
"Somehow, I don't feel he's the only one who benefited," Johanna replied.
"You're not wrong," Dawn agreed. "To tell you the truth, it feels like we've all grown up, together."
"Adventuring with others will do that. But, don't forget that a pokemon trainer's path is never-ending. Whether you're a league trainer, or a coordinator, that fact stays the same. So, don't let that title make you too haughty, dear."
"Oh, Mom." Dawn laughed, winking through the screen. "No need to worry! I'll keep that in mind!"
"Now, you know that's when I worry the most." Johanna cheekily winked in return.
A comfortable silence lingered, between mother and daughter. That was, of course, until the video phone blared an obnoxious ringtone over the call.
"...Oh! Looks like I might have another call! I'm already looking popular," Dawn joked.
"Remember what I said about getting a big head," Johanna chuckled. "I won't keep you, then. I love you, dear."
"Love you too, Mom!" Dawn waved to the screen, before accepting the incoming call.
"Congratulations!"
The screen was evenly split between two competing faces - a grinning young adult, with her wild dark hair tied back into twin tails, and a sporty-looking redhead, with goggles strapped to her head, as always.
"Zoey!? Candice!?" Dawn gawked, then clasped her hands together gleefully. "Hey!"
"'Hey,' yourself, Top Coordinator," Zoey chuckled. "Trying to play it cool, already?"
"Congratulations!" Candice gushed, slipping past Zoey to take up the full screen. "That was over-the-top-spectacular, Dawn!"
"I'm still soaking it all in," Dawn smiled politely, cradling her trophy. "Take it easy on a girl, huh?"
"I know what you mean," Zoey replied, placing a hand on Candice's shoulder to gently pull her back from the screen, bringing herself back into view. "It took me a while to internalize it, too. It just doesn't feel real."
"You're so right!" Dawn agreed. "It looks like I finally caught up to you, Zoey."
"Don't get too cocky," Zoey smirked. "Remember - since our first Grand Festival, I've been training, too. You've still got a ways to go."
The cheer began to drain from Dawn's face, and Zoey quickly raised her hands. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding! For the most part, anyway. I've taken some time to polish my technique, but it's obvious I'm not the only one. Some of the teamwork between your pokemon was phenomenal - and, not just the final round."
"Oh, absolutely! That 'Thunder Tiara' in the semi-finals was just gorgeous - I could feel the kiai behind Lopunny's strikes!"
"You really think so?" Dawn blushed. "To be honest, what inspired that one was Nando's battle with you, Zoey. The way his Lopunny moved with Bug Buzz was just… I still don't have words," she swooned. "I hope that's not too much of a rip-off."
Zoey shook her head. "I'd say it's removed enough from Nando to call it a rip-off. Most Lopunny are pretty graceful, but using Pachirisu's attack as a crown to highlight her every move was a brilliant idea. It must've taken a lot of work to get just right."
"Oh, you don't know the half of it," Dawn whistled. "Well, I guess you do."
"That 'Sunset Whirlpool,' though! Seriously, I love the names you give your combinations!" Candice swooned.
"Thanks! Funny thing is, Ash has picked up the habit of naming his combinations, too."
"Ash, using combination moves?" Zoey quirked a brow, then smirked. "I guess taking part in contests benefited him, after all."
"They're really incredible," Dawn praised. "If you can find it, you should watch this year's Indigo League Conference!"
"If you're praising it that highly, I guess I'll have to check it out." Zoey winked. "Oh, by the way, I heard that shout-out. It's nice to know you took that advice to heart."
"She was so embarrassed!" Candice sing-songed.
"She's exaggerating," the redhead replied.
"Nuh-uh, Dawn! Her face was red as it gets," Candice teased, poking Zoey's puffed out cheek. "It was so cute!"
"Knock it off, will ya?" Zoey pulled away from her close friend, subconsciously brushing her reddening cheek.
Dawn snorted at the scene. It was nice to see that not much had changed, in her absence.
"Anyway," Zoey continued, "once you're back in Sinnoh, you should definitely drop by here, in Snowpoint, so we can celebrate your victory the right way!"
"We'll give you a good ol' Snowpoint warm welcome!" Candice added.
"Snowpoint isn't the first place I'd think of, when it comes to being warm," Dawn joked. "Sure. After Ash challenges the Elite Four, I'll definitely come visit!"
"The Elite Four!?" Candice echoed. "Oh, that's bound to be loaded with kiai! I'll tune in to see that, too!"
"Sounds good," Zoey agreed. "Wish Ash luck for me, then, Dawn. And, again, congratulations."
"Will do!" Dawn beamed, waving to the camera. "Bye, guys!"
The video call came to an end, mid-wave. Smiling, Dawn exhaled. What a day…
"Have a little patience, will ya!?"
"Ash!?" Dawn turned to the unfolding commotion. Ash was currently barricading the door to the locker room, struggling to hold it shut. Luckily, he had Misty's assistance.
"Please, sir! We just want an audience with this year's Top Coordinator!" A man with a microphone pleaded, barely visible through the crack in the door, struggling to make his way through.
"Have a little patience! The poor girl just got done with the last round!" Misty scolded, having no qualms with shoving the man back by his face, before safely pushing the door further shut. The muffled clamoring of reporters told Dawn that there was more where that came from.
"Looks like you've got an audience," Brock dryly commented. "Even Ash got more of a breather after his victory, than this."
"I guess you're… pretty popular!" Ash grunted, holding his back to the door.
"A-ah! If they're the press, they'll probably have cameras!" Dawn sputtered, rushing to her friends' aid. But, not before handing her trophy off to Brock. "Thanks, Brock!"
"Happy to help," he chuckled, cradling the prize.
Dawn assisted in barricading the door with her shoulder, frantically looking about. "I need my makeup and brushes - Misty, could you fetch that for me?"
"Think about what you're doing here," Ash warned. "Without Misty's help, these guys might get past us!"
"I've got you covered," Misty winked. "Take my spot!"
Dawn leaned all of her weight against the door, luckily backed by Ash's monstrous strength. "Jeez, they're like a pack of wild Mightyena!"
"Uh, might wanna watch what you say, Dawn," Brock warned. "They're right on the other side of-"
"I know what I said," Dawn barked. "If they don't like it, they should've thought about that, and gave a girl a little more privacy!"
~I got ya, Ma!~ Rosa pressed a palm firmly to the door. It budged and bumped, but it didn't break down.
"I can always count on you, girl," Dawn said gratefully, accepting her cosmetics from Misty. "Now, I just gotta... " She fumbled her makeup bag and pocket mirror. "Ugh, come on!"
"I got it!" With a free hand, Ash snagged the mirror, flipping it open to hold up for Dawn. "Get to it, babe!"
"Babe!?" Dawn sputtered, flushing red. "Ugh, now you choose to make my face all flushed…" When did he pick up pet-names!? Regardless, she had an image to keep up! Furrowing her brows in concentration, the picture-perfect girl from Twinleaf Town got to work, powdering her face.
She wasn't even going to try mascara, right now, with the constant disruption.
"Just a bit of lip gloss… and- ugh!" She fumbled her bag, losing ground against the paparazzi. "Can't you all just…!" Getting resourceful, she bumped the door closed again with her butt as she managed to grab her brush. "Just a little more…! Furiously and meticulously brushing her blue locks, she set every bang - every strand - into its proper place. Heck if she'd be seen on television, looking like a wreck!
Studying herself with scrutiny in the mirror Ash provided, Dawn squinted. "...Perfect!" Triumphant, she leapt back from the door, letting the floodgates ajar.
Rosa leapt away with all the swiftness of a fighting type, while Ash became a casualty of rampant reporting, knocked clean on his rear. "Ugh…"
"Miss Tsumura!" The man at the head of the frenzied pack held out a microphone, while his partner held up a video camera. "Do you have anything to say about your victory in the Grand Festival!?"
"I, uh…" Dawn stammered, before raising a fist, winking at the camera. "I'm proud to see all of my hard work pay off!"
"Inspiring words," the reporter agreed, greedily moving on to the next question. "That last round was terribly close - how did you hold up, under the pressure!?"
"It was tough, definitely," Dawn agreed. "But, my personal philosophy is 'no need to worry!'"
"She's got it under control, I guess…" Ash sat up, flipping her pocket mirror closed.
"Pikachu…" Pikachu agreed, with an amused roll of his eyes. The press could be so annoying… if he was never in front of a camera again, it'd be too soon.
At the very least, Dawn seemed to be a natural.
"How could she be gone so fast!? It's barely been a couple hours since our match." Dawn exhaled, resting her hands on her hips.
"Empol!" Now refreshed and fully recovered, the penguin waddled after his trainer. They'd been wandering about the grounds near the Pokemon Center for about fifteen minutes, now.
"No one else has seen her, either… she wasn't joking about how much she hates the spotlight." Dawn brushed a hand through her bangs. "It's not as if many people will be leaving the Plateau, already - the Grand Festival just ended. It's not like she could go unseen, around here."
"Pol," Empoleon whined. At the very least, a quick congratulations from their opponent would've been nice… hold on. "Pol! Empol!" Empoleon waved his wings violently.
"Huh? What's up?" Dawn tilted her head at her starter. "Did ya see something?"
The water type shook his head. Not quite - but, he had an idea! He pointed his wing southwest of the Indigo Plateau - right in the direction of the town's train station!
"...Oh, I see! You might be right! Good thinking, Empoleon," Dawn praised, sprinting toward the station. She made sure to move around the edge of the village - the last thing she needed, right now, was to get held up by anyone who happened to watch the finale. If Empoleon's gut instinct was right, they had no time to waste!
Empoleon froze a trail with Ice Beam, flopping belly-first to surf the path.
The shadows about the station had begun to shift, on the advent of the late afternoon. Early sunsets hadn't arrived just yet, in early September, leaving a considerable window for safe travel through Victory Road - or, what qualified as safe on the final path, that was.
But, Glenda was hardly built for that sort of trekking, these days, as much as it pained her to acknowledge it. Although powerful, she wasn't exactly a spring Torchic, anymore. If her pokemon tired along the way, what then?
So, here she was, sitting on a bench, one leg crossed over the other. Her boot tapped rhythmically against the cement platform. As she'd predicted, the station was relatively empty, on the day of the big event. Most opted to stay overnight and leave fresh, in the morning.
She could remain relatively invisible, this way. Her long coat and scarf obscured her, plenty.
What was left to see, anyway, with her pokemon out of the competition?
"Glenda!"
The middle-aged woman looked over her shoulder, with widened amber eyes. "What're you doing here, dear? Surely, you're not leaving without your friends?"
The younger coordinator was hunched over, gasping for breath, exhausted. "No, I…" she panted. "I just… I wanted to thank you for a great match." Regaining her composure, Dawn ran a hand through her hair with a smile. "After a battle like that, I…"
...well, what else was there to say, anyway? After coming all this way, Dawn wasn't quite sure.
"If I stayed any longer, I would've never made it out quietly," Glenda interrupted.
"Well… yeah. The press is pretty vicious," Dawn chuckled. "It took me, Ash, and our friends combined to shake them off."
Glenda tutted, shaking her head. "I take it, then, that you didn't get absorbed in the limelight."
"Who, me? No way," Dawn emphasized, shaking her head. "My dream's more important to me than any cover story… besides, who wants to get caught by cameras, all the time? They're bound to catch you on a bad hair day!"
A brief moment of silence passed. Dawn could feel Glenda's stare, and blushed. "Anyway, thanks. Your pokemon and their combinations were amazing! Facing them in the final round was an honor."
The blonde woman smiled. "Thank you, for proving to me that my participation wasn't a wasted effort. To be quite honest with you, I'd been a bit discouraged after the ruckus in Fuschia City."
"You, discouraged!?" Dawn echoed, gawking. Empoleon squawked in response, too.
"No matter how much you grow, life will always hand you another obstacle to overcome. Remember that, and tackle them with the same passion that you did today."
A loud, squeaking hiss interrupted the conversation, as the Viridian-Indigo train rolled into the station, loudly coming to a halt. Glenda stood, approaching the door to the train car.
"I will, Glenda!" Dawn beamed, flashing a 'victory' sign at her senior. "No need to worry!"
Stepping onto the car, Glenda turned back towards the youth, and offered a soft smile as the door shut in front of her. Within moments, the veteran was off.
Dawn and Empoleon watched the train leave in silence, enjoying the gentle fall breeze that whipped the former's hair about.
"Well, Empoleon," Dawn looked to her starter, "looks like that's the end of this journey. The title of Top Coordinator is ours!"
"Pol…" Empoleon nodded slowly. As Dawn's words sunk in, he felt a sharp sense of dread, and squawked in protest. "Empoleon!"
"Hey, it's okay! We still have Ash's challenge to look forward to, remember?" She moved to console her starter, resting a hand on his shoulder. "And, even after that, we'll still have each other."
The starter hummed quietly. Dawn did have a point… they'd gone their separate ways once before. It was painful, for sure. But, this journey had already proven that, no matter how far friends drift apart, they'll find their way back to one another.
He could handle that. Probably.
"There you guys are!" Standing at the foot of the stairway leading to the platform, Ash was waiting for Dawn, accompanied by Pikachu.
"Ash? Pikachu?" Dawn cocked her head at the duo.
"Had a feeling this was where you were headed." Ash ascended the steps, giving his starter a free ride. "Looking for Glenda?"
"You just missed her." Dawn stuck her tongue out.
"Aw, well. At least you got to see 'er, right?"
"No kidding." She looked off down the tracks. The train was already out of sight. "She wasn't looking to stick around… but, still, it was nice to see her! I had to thank her for a good fight."
"I know what you mean... " Ash whistled. What a fight it was. "I hope you're giving yourself credit, too. And Empoleon," he quickly added.
"Well, yeah!" Dawn beamed, running a hand through her long locks. "I think we've earned a little vanity, after all that hard work."
"Pol-Empol!" Empoleon agreed, raising a flipper.
"Good." Ash nodded, looking over the Plateau's horizon. "Seriously. I'm proud of you, Dawn. Really proud."
"Aw, Ash." Dawn put on a polite smile, failing to contain her blush. "But, hey! You were a big part in helping us get here!"
"That's just what we do. We're a team, remember?"
"You got that right," Dawn chimed. "I push you forward," she winked, lightly shoving Ash's back.
Ash stumbled, laughing as he reached for Dawn's wrist. "And, I'll pull you along!" Securing her, Ash pulled Dawn in, bringing her into his personal space.
Cheek-to-cheek, their laughter quelled, and they absently watched the skyline. The sun really looked dazzling, today.
"Oh, yeah!" Ash roused, pulling back, just a bit. "Things went well today, right? Aren't we gonna celebrate?"
"If you're trying to get fresh with me," Dawn teased, "you already used up your kiss as a good-luck charm."
"Darn, you're right. "Ash snapped his fingers in mock-disappointment. "...Well, that just leaves one thing!" Stepping back, the teen lifted one gloved hand, holding it high above his head.
Dawn's eyes glimmered upon spotting the gesture. Smiling from ear to ear, she reared her arm back. "Then, let's!" She swung.
A resounding 'clap' echoed through the quiet station.
"As long as we're together…"
"We can go even further than before," Ash finished.
"Pi-ka-chu!" Pikachu hopped on his trainer's shoulder, chirping in agreement.
"Empoleon!" Empoleon agreed.
"Speaking of going further... " Ash turned northward, towards the height of the Indigo Plateau. Indigo Stadium. He pointed towards the league. "...Next, is the Elite Four, and the Championship!"
"Pika-Pikaaa!" Pikachu shouted, in a determined battle cry. They could bring it on!
"You'll see - I'll blow them away!" Ash promised, pumping a fist. The excitement visibly left his face after a moment. "...That is, if you wanna come cheer me on, again. If you wanna get back home and see your Mom and Zoey, I totally understand." The idea did bum him out, a great deal. But, fair was fair. He'd manage. Dawn had done plenty for him already - it wasn't like they were attached at the hip.
"Pika.." Pikachu tilted his head.
"Pol…" Empoleon's shoulders slumped. They couldn't be splitting already!? He'd made peace, sure, but he'd thought they'd had more time!
"Are you kidding? Going home can wait." Dawn winked, clapping a hand on Ash's shoulder. "Until after you win the Championship!"
"Ahaha…!" Dawn could watch Ash's face regain life in real-time, his dark chocolate eyes positively glowing with excitement. Before she knew it, he'd pulled her in with an arm around her waist. "Being totally honest, that's what I wanted to hear."
A gentle autumn breeze brushed by the station, rustling grass, stray leaves, and the loose clothing of Ash and Dawn alike. The trainer from Pallet Town smirked, brimming with confidence, as he gripped the brim of his cap between his thumb and index finger. "Today, we're setting our sights on the strongest trainers in all of Kanto and Johto."
The faintest sign of a sunset crawled towards the west horizon, highlighting the stadium with a faint orange glow. A fiery glaze, not unlike the passionate fire building in Ash's eyes.
"They better be watching their backs!" Pikachu scaled Ash's shoulder, his lips curving into a wide, hot-blooded smile, his brows furrowed. His ears stood up, and his lightning bolt tail wagged behind him.
"Right," Ash agreed, sharing a glance with his partner "When we arrive, they won't know what hit them! It's time for Ash and Pikachu Ketchum to make their claim to fame!"
