I cheered as I watched the recorded live off the appeal round of the Sinnoh Grand Festival. I would have loved to be there to watch it live, but while the Sinnoh Grand Festival was only starting, the Johto Grand Festival was in its last stages. Mom and dad took me to watch and be there to cheer for my big sister. The event was packed with strong coordinators! It was a hard event, especially since May had to face every single one of her rivals to make it t the finals. Drew, on the other hand, had it much easier.

May began with a bang, using her Delcatty, who she had evolved as soon as we got back from Alola, and Beautifly for the appeal round. They made a weather base performance that shocked us all. She began with a powerful Blizzard from Delcatty if you thought her Skitty's Blizzard was strong, you've seen nothing yet. Beautifly intercepted the Blizzard with a well-timed Silver Wind that caused silver snowflakes to fall softly all over the stage. Delcatty then aimed a Water Pulse high towards the ceiling, where Beautifly turned into a beautiful rainbow with the use of Morning Sun. The scenery that was created was breathtaking. Snowflakes fell creating a winter landscape in the early morning thanks to the Morning Sun, with a delicate rainbow that overtook the whole stage and its collage of colors was reflected in the mirror-like silver snowflakes.

It was such a beautiful scene... a soothing peace overtook me while I was watching it. I did not even notice the solitary tear that fell down my cheek until Rats turned around on my lap to wipe it. I could see that he was also crying, our bond and my emotions overwhelmed him.

I just... I've never been prouder of my sister.

I was not the only one, mom was also in tears and dad had this huge smile on his face. Pride was shining in his eyes as he watched his little girl all grown up now. I could not believe that the same big sister that was afraid of pokemon was now earning top scores as a seasoned coordinator and passing on to the battle round of the Grand Festival with the highest score and top performance.

That's my big sister!

For the first battle round, she used Delcatty and Beautifly again, I think she was trying to make it up to them as she had not used the much during her Johto journey. I felt sorry for the coordinator she faced first, the poor girl was a rookie and she had to face May right off the bat. The Shadow Ball-Energy Ball combo took down her Ledian and Furret easily. In the top 16, she used her Pikachu for the first time and partnered up with her Muchlax. Pikachu's speed and Munchlax's unpredictability were an amazing combo, her opponent didn't know what hit him. Quite literal really, May overused the Menotrome and made up combos right in the middle of the battle. She even created an electric winter storm, with the use of a Menotrome summoned Blizzard and Discharge. One that somehow managed to both freeze and paralyzes her opponent's Jumpluff and Politoed.

No idea how she did that, but I've never seen a clearer sign that she was trained by Ash.

It was truly in the top 8 that things began to get complicated. She faced off against Harley. It was Harley's Cacturne and Banette vs May's Glaceon and Blaziken. It was a difficult battle, but in the end, May managed to get the upper hand with a new combo I had seen her train at dad's gym. First Blaziken attacked with a Close Combat fired up with Blaze Kick, then Glaceon joined using Freeze Dry of all things! Glaceon charged an orb of light blue energy and then fired a beam of light blue energy from the orb at Blaziken's legs. The fire in his kicks became blue flames! It looked so cool! But what took the prize was when Blaziken managed to land a hit on Cacturne froze him and then the ice around him shattered into blinding blue flames. The poor Cacturne fainted right before the time buzzer went off, taking down Harley's point along with him.

May then faced off Solidad in the top 4, the same coordinator that was her ending previously. I was worried when Solidad called out her two strongest pokemon, Lapras and Slowbro. But then May called out her Venasaur and Blastoise, yes Wartortle had achieved his last evolutionary form. That battle was one of grace and strength, the bleachers shook from the power coming off their attacks clashing against each other. Dad was shocked by the power they showcase, normally finding this kind of battle on the last rounds of a Pokemon League. While mom was stunned that they were able to maintain the level of beauty and grace, while also hitting as hard as they could. May had learned that from Ash, however, Solidad was the surprise for me. In the end, May won by a double knock-out thanks to her pokemon's Solar Beam and Hydro Pump combo. I did tell her it was too much for a contest but seeing the points on the screen I realized that Solidad had had the advantage and the time was running out. May had used that combo intentionally to knock out Solidad's pokemon and advance to the final round.

Wow... since when has May been this vicious? I had thought stunned when I realized what had been my big sister's plan.

But none of that mattered now. It was finally the finals, one last battle and May will be crowned as a Top Coordinator. I know she will!

I looked down the stage and cheered with my family when I saw May come out. I grinned when Drew came out from the other side and thought about how long it has all begun. It all started with Drew and now it was going to end with Drew... it was kind of poetic if you asked me.

Drew was the first one to release his pokemon, I smiled at the pokemon that came out of his Poke Balls. Flygon, and as expected, Roserade. May had the advantage!

"Drew is already at a disadvantage," dad chuckled beside me as May called out her faithful starter Blaziken and her newly evolved Gardevoir.

"Go, sis!" Ralts shouted from my lap.

"You can do it, love!" Mom's Gardevoir also called out, from where she was sitting next to mom.

"Gardevoir's evolution will take him by surprise, the same way Blastoise's did with Solidad!" I exclaimed. "Not to mention the double type advantage!"

Drew was the first to attack, "Boomburst! Petal Dance!" The combo created a petal storm, that was as deadly as it was beautiful.

I worriedly noticed May's lowering one-fourth, but I should have not worried at all.

"Gardevoir, Psychic!" May called out, stopping the attack before it hit them and manipulating it so it would surround them. "Now, Blaziken Fire Spin!" The flames went along the air current from the Boomburst, bruning one petal after the other. By the end, petals in flames were falling softly around them, as if it was one of those old Johto movies.

I cheered when I saw Drew's points also lowering one-fourth.

"Roserade, Toxic! Flygon, catch it with Iron Tail!" Drew commanded, and soon his dragon was wearing a beautiful purple and silver glittering tail.

"He is heading straight to my big sister!" Ralts exclaimed in concern, as I watched May's point lower until she only had half of them left.

However, before Flygon could get to her, Blaziken stepped before Gardevoir, as if he were a knight protecting a princess, and used Stone Edge. Poor Flygon received it to the gut and was thrown back against Roserade. The crowd loved the theatrics, especially mom who sighed dreamily. By the looks so did the judges, because they lowered Drew's points until he only had half as well.

"Gardevoir, Blaziken, Flare Blast!" May called out, making me shout in excitement.

"Here it is!"

Soon Gardevoir summoned a Moon Blast, but instead of throwing it, she waited. Blaziken jumped in the air above her and used Flare Blitz on it. Soon there was a moon on fire that had the whole crowd gasping in awe. Drew shouted, trying to get his pokemon to dodge, but they were still trying to get up from the Stone Edge attack. They were not able to evade it, and the pink and red sparkles that came from the collision were too beautiful and delicate for it to come from such a powerful move. The judges seem to like it too, Drew had less than one-fourth of his points left.

Roserade and Flygon were not out of commission yet. Gardevoir had only just evolved, her Moon Blast was still not strong enough to handle Blaziken's full-power Flare Blitz, so he had to take it down a notch. They slowly and difficultly got on their feet, they were not giving up.

"This is not over yet!" Drew exclaimed smirking at May, who smiled back in excitement. "Poison Sting! Air Slash!" Drew called out, but before the pokemon could attack and before May could counterattack, the buzzer went off.

Everyone froze, I rapidly looked towards the screen and gasped.

"May won..." mom murmured, tears in her eyes. "May won!"

The whole crowd jumped together, cheering and celebrating.

My sister won!

She is now a Top Coordinator!

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the new Johto Grand Festival Top Coordinator: May Maple!" Nurse Joy announced.

I could see Drew walking toward my crying sister who was hugging both of her pokemon in happiness. He then took out a rose and gave it to her with a smile. I could not hear what he had said, from the deafening cheers from the crowd around me, but it had May crying all over again. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Drew's eyes widened in startled shock before his face softened and he hugged her back.

Just get together! I screamed in my head, wanting to really shout it at them. But I did not want to get involved in any scandal. Especially, not one that involved the Hoenn Princess and the Hoenn Rose Knight.

"Our little girl, all grown up," dad murmured, as he hugged mom beside him. I noticed the tears in the corner of his eyes but did not mention it.

"Our little girl is a Top Coordinator now," mom replied, snuggling to his chest, while her Gardevoir was spinning my Ralts around beside her. "She has finally reached her dream."

"What are you talking about," I interrupted them, gaining their attention and startled expressions. "She has only just begun. This is only the start."