"Alright! And now, for our first battle round, we have Dawn, up against Dirk!" Lilian narrated. On one end of the stage was Dawn, and the other, an older, bald man wearing a gi, with several dice in his palm that didn't clasp a Poké Ball. "We have five minutes on the clock! Let's get busy!"

"Hope you're ready to try your luck," Dirk taunted, juggling several dice in his hand. "'Cause I'm a rambling, gambling man! Go, Voltorb!" With that introduction out of the way, he tossed the Poké Ball with finesse, just to call a mimic of the device, itself.

"Voltorrrrb!" Voltorb let out a mechanical cry, exerting sparks from his round body.

"I always did like making choices with a good coin toss," Dawn answered, with her Pokétch in mind. "But, we'll be coming at you with a lot more than just luck! Clefairy, spotlight!"

Clefairy tumbled onto the stage before landing lightly on her toes, spinning around to wink cutely at the crowd. "Clefairy~!"

"Hah, we'll see! Voltorb, use Rollout!" On its trainer's command, Voltorb bowled towards Clefairy in an attempt to roll her out flat.

"Let's put a stop to them, Clefairy!" Dawn commanded with a smile, spanning her hands outwards. "Use Magical Leaf!"

Clefairy responded in kind by summoning an array of glowing leaves, and with a gesture of her stubby arms, sent them all gathering for the rolling Voltorb. Glimmering greens coalesced and battered it, putting a complete stop to its momentum.

"Ooh, and Rollout can't cut it, against Clefairy's Magical Leaf!"

With Lilian's narration, Dirk's points took a slight drop.

"Feh. Voltorb, use Eerie Impulse!"

Voltorb's grating voice increased to an unbearable pitch. With it, several golden, jagged rings struck Clefairy. She didn't seem to take any direct damage, but the way she cowered and covered her ears was enough sign that the attack was unpleasant.

While Lilian cooed about how cool and disruptive Eerie Impulse was, Dawn's points dropped to match Dirk's. And the assault didn't stop there. "Now, another Rollout!" The gambler called.

"We stopped them once and we can do it again, Clefairy!" Dawn coached. "Magical Leaf!"

Another enchanting assembly of green battered Voltorb's metallic body. But this time, the leaves barely grazed its shell, and were altogether flattened by Rollout. Voltorb shot through, crashing into Clefairy.

The fairy-type wailed, knocked back. Dawn's points dropped an inch to match.

"It didn't work!?" Dawn exclaimed. "But, how…?"

"That's what happens when y'keep relying on the same trick! The house always catches ya." Dirk taunted, while Voltorb rolled around for another attempt.

"It seems that Eerie Impulse cut down the power of Clefairy's special moves!" Lilian explained, answering Dawn's concerns. "What's she going to do, now!?"

"Well, if we can't overpower it… Clefairy, let's do what you do best, and dance around that Rollout!" Dawn beamed, deciding on their next play. After watching her battle with Prinplup, not all that long ago, Dawn knew the tiny Pokémon's strengths. And she knew them well, clearly, as Clefairy twirled and sidestepped Voltorb with every attempt to bowl her over.

"Look at that! Clefairy's avoiding Voltorb's Rollout, and looking positively graceful while doing it! It isn't flattering Voltorb any to roll around aimlessly, like that!"

Dirk growled, as his points dropped down to about two thirds. "That's enough, Voltorb!"

But, he'd forgotten one thing. Once Rollout got started, there was no stopping it. The momentum was already built, and the mimic could do nothing but launch itself at Clefairy.

"Clefairy! Defense Curl!" Dawn shouted.

Clefairy rolled up into a little pink puffball, looking cute as could be for the audience. She tumbled forward, and her puffy pink tail pressed down onto the surface of Voltorb. She catapulted into the air using her momentum and theirs, vaulting and flipping into the air.

"Now, Clefairy!" Dawn beamed, throwing an open hand in the air. "Land on top of Voltorb!"

"Faiiiry~!" Clefairy allowed gravity to claim her again, landing tip-toed atop Voltorb. The startled Pokémon started to roll and shake about, but Clefairy took it in stride, balancing and skipping atop her foe with glee.

"Aww, now that's adorable!" Lilian cooed. "Clefairy is making a balancing act out of her opponent, turning his own attack against him!"

Meanwhile, Dirk's points dropped heavily, to around a third.

"Rk…! Cheeky thing, ain't cha?" The man grit his teeth before they grew into a mischievous grin. "I guess you are a betting gal, after all!"

"Huh?" Dawn frowned, raising an eyebrow.

"But as long as you're making yourself at home on Voltorb, remember that the house always wins! Voltorb, use Spark!"

"Oh, no!" Dawn frowned, realizing her folly.

The rolling Voltorb lit up with a snapping blue spark, and shot through Clefairy instantly. The small Pokémon yelped, falling back onto the field. Wisps of smoke rose from her body.

Dawn's points dipped to halfway full.

'This is bad,' she frowned. 'Clefairy's attacks can't do much against him, and he's stopped our attempts to earn points! It's gonna be hard to win, unless…!'

"Use Rollout again, Voltorb!" Dirk called out. Voltorb launched towards Clefairy.

"Defense Curl, Clefairy! Stay on the ground!" Dawn shouted.

"Fairy!" Clefairy tucked herself in securely, awaiting her foe. It wasn't a long wait, until she felt the pressure of Voltorb colliding with her.

"Now, send him flying!" Dawn smiled, throwing her hands out.

Clefairy fell back with Voltorb's Rollout, and kicked her feet into the orb's underside. With that reversal, she sent the Electric-type soaring above her.

"Hah! Y'won't be holding us off again," Dirk shouted. "Use Spark!"

Voltorb hit maximum altitude, and surrounded himself in blue, volatile sparks. With gravity's assistance, he plummeted back down for the kill.

"Now, Clefairy!" Beaming, Dawn threw her hands up. "Stored Power!"

"Cle… Fairy!" Clefairy mirrored Dawn's movements, and with her own, a pink and purple aura burst around her body. Reinforced twice over by Defense Curl, the Psychic-type move unleashed her latent power and blasted Voltorb away.

"Wow! What a beautiful use of Stored Power! And Clefairy's Defense Curl made it far more impressive than the one used in its appeal! Voltorb's Spark just couldn't stand up to it!"

Despite Lilian laying the praise on thick, Dawn couldn't feel so confident. Voltorb had taken the hit, but when it landed near Dirk, it still looked ferocious and raring to battle.

Clefairy, on the other hand, was trembling just a bit. The judges may or may not notice, but from Dawn's perspective, she knew she was hurting. 'This is one of her first battles… if we don't decide this quickly, she might faint!' Dawn swallowed, and steeled her resolve. "Clefairy, use-"

Before Dawn could utter a command, the loud, commanding 'ding!' of the scoreboard sounded, drawing her attention to it. When her eyes landed on the screen, she saw Dirk's points drop to zero. His picture shrunk and faded, and her own face took over the screen, with 'Winner!' plastered below.

"A tough clash for both Pokémon involved, all things considered!" Lilian summated. "But it seems that the judges have decided that Dawn wins by point knock-out, putting her onto the second battle round!"

Dawn let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Clefairy." She recalled the weary Pokémon, and smiled across the way to Dirk. "And thanks for the match! Your Voltorb had me on edge!"

"What a shame." The man recalled Voltorb, muttering what Dawn could only assume was a word of gratitude to his Pokémon. He made eye contact with Dawn, and smirked. "But, that's the luck of the draw. Congratulations!"

Dawn exited with a respectful bow, and headed backstage.

"Now, let's head on to the second battle round of the quarter-finals! Up next is…!"

"Here. This'll heal you up just fine."

Dawn soothed, holding a battle-weary Clefairy in her lap. The gentle spray of a potion washed over her scratches and burns, making the small Pokémon wince. "There, there. It stings a little, but you'll be fine in a moment. No need to worry!"

The spray soon soothed, rather than hurt, and Clefairy cooed, turning around to hug Dawn. "Clefairy~!" She was grateful. But, she felt tired, resting her head in the groove of Dawn's arm.

"That must've really done a number on you… You look like you're ready to conk out." Dawn half-smiled. "I guess you were a little under-prepared for the battle rounds… Sorry. I wish I could've done more to train you for that."

"Fairy, fairy." Clefairy shook her head. If anything, she seemed to shoulder that blame, herself. "Clefairy!" She met Dawn's gaze, frowning. Perhaps she blamed herself?

"Hey. You got us this far. So, how about you rest, and the rest of the team will take over?"

Clefairy nodded, accepting this. Meanwhile, in the background, a poor trainer's Poliwag was felled by a trouncing from Ciara's shiny Vulpix.

"Now, let's start the semi-final round! Dawn and Pomme, your match is now on the clock! Let's get busy~!"

"Okay! Buneary, Spotlight~!" Dawn twirled, throwing a Poké Ball to call on the fluffy Normal-type.

Buneary somersaulted out of her ball, striking a cute pose.

The young woman pursed her lips, clutching a Poké Ball close to her chest. She looked somewhat nervous, though this was lost on Dawn. There was no time to dawdle, though, so she called her own Pokémon into the fray. "Gloom! Let's show them your charm!"

The short, blue bipedal Pokémon cooed happily. Despite the characteristic string of drool hanging from its lips, the Pokémon managed to look cute and charming with its happy demeanor. Or, maybe it was the well-cared-for flower that crowned its head? "Gloom~!"

"Let's go, Buneary! Dizzy Punch!" Dawn called. Buneary hopped her way towards Gloom, coiling her ears in. The cream-colored fluff lit with a bright, multicolored glow.

Pomme's stance wavered with some uncertainty, and she threw a hand forward to hide that lack of confidence. "Use Lucky Chant, Gloom!"

A beautiful purple glow cast over Gloom, concentrating in the orange leaves framing its flowers. The two front leaves crossed over Gloom's stocky body, protecting it from the full impact of Buneary's Dizzy Punch. The enchantment protected her from critical hits, minimizing the risk of taking attacks!

But, that didn't account for Buneary's sheer ferocity. The rabbit cried, pushing Gloom back with repeated, alternating punches with her coiled ears. "Bun! Bun! Bun! Bun!" Buneary pressed Gloom's guard, and overwhelmed it with a strong uppercut. Gloom was thrown back towards Pomme.

"Ooh, Lucky Chant guarded Gloom, but it was still no match for a very motivated Buneary!" Lilian narrated, as Pomme's points dropped. Dawn's dropped a tad less, for the beauty of Lucky Chant.

Pomme gasped. "Gloom…! Use Giga Drain, sweetie!"

Gloom hopped back on its feet, and fired a green, parasitic wave towards Buneary.

"Use Bounce!" Dawn countered.

Buneary sprang high, well out of Giga Drain's reach. Her swift departure from danger, and acrobatic prowess with it, dropped Pomme's points to about three quarters full. But the rabbit didn't stop there, plummeting down for a powerful drop kick. "Buneary!"

"Treat them to your Sweet Scent, Gloom!"

There was no stopping Buneary's descent, so she had no choice but to dive into the aromatic cloud of spores, with her foot aimed squarely at Gloom's head. She'd bounce in, strike fiercely, and hop on out!

At least, that was the plan… before that very, very sweet scent got picked up by her keen, pink nose. Her tense, poised muscles relaxed, and she couldn't help but sniff her way towards Gloom's flower. It smelled like the incense in Paris' shop. Maybe Pomme had it for sale…?

"What's this!? Sweet Scent has made Buneary completely docile, and disarmed her Bounce attack! That Gloom must smell wonderful, folks; I'm almost jealous!"

Dawn gasped. "Buneary!? What're you doing, over there? Don't get too close!"

"Use Acid, Gloom!"

Gloom aimed its flower at the pacified Buneary, and splattered her with acid. The rabbit shrieked, drawing gasps from the crowd. Acid had struck Buneary in the face, temporarily blinding her!

Pomme gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth. "I didn't mean to…!"

Despite the strategic combination that put Pomme in control of the battle, her points actually took a dive. The woman sporting a floral dress did a double-take at the scoreboard.

"Disarming a Pokémon with a beautiful aroma is a charming display from a Grass-type Pokémon! But it seems the judges weren't entirely fond of the underhanded use of Acid! A tough break for the cute and graceful Gloom, and its trainer!"

"Buneary!" Dawn called out, putting the issue of points on the backburner. "Are you alright?"

The rabbit rubbed at her eyes in vain, then stopped, when this only made them burn more. Deciding to keep her eyes shut, she couldn't see a thing. But, her stamina was just fine. "Bun," she affirmed.

"Okay! Then, let's finish this battle. Use your hearing to keep track of Gloom!"

Pomme gathered herself, and resumed. "Use a beautiful Giga Drain, Gloom!"

Gloom aimed her flower at Buneary, and fired a glimmering green ray.

"Jump, to dodge it!" Dawn called. Despite her back being to Gloom, she could hear the flickering sounds of the move coming towards her. She crouched, and sprang into the air.

"Ice Beam!"

"Bunnnn~!" Buneary leaned backwards, opening her mouth to spray an Ice Beam towards Gloom, upside-down and spinning horizontally for style points.

Tried as Gloom may to tip-toe around the freezing rays striking the ground about it, Buneary's spinning assault was simply too thorough. Ice Beam flashed over Gloom, sufficient to freeze it in a block of ice.

"Oooh, and what a counter from Buneary! Not only did her strong hearing overcome her blindness, but a perfectly-aimed Ice Beam has left Gloom frozen!"

For this show of power and skill, Pomme's points plummeted.

"Now, let's finish it!" Dawn declared gleefully. "Use Bounce!"

Buneary landed after a graceful back flip, and sprung backwards once more. "Bunnneary~!" She came down with a vengeance, smashing a foot into the frozen Gloom. She stood atop the block of ice, until it cracked and shattered.

Gloom fell, unconscious. Additionally, Pomme's points had hit zero, bringing Dawn's visage to take over the screen hanging over the Contest Hall.

"Aaand, that's a wrap! With an outstanding performance under duress, Buneary has carried Dawn on to the final round! Let's have a nice round of applause for both of our coordinators!"

Dismissing the applause with a wave, Dawn walked over to scoop Buneary into her arms. "There, there, girl. How're you managing?"

The rabbit frowned, irritably rubbing at her shut eyes. Despite this, she insisted on coming off tough. "Buneary!"

"Um, excuse me…" Pomme's voice interjected. She frowned, twiddling her thumbs. "...Sorry about that. I swear I didn't mean to-"

"Oh, no need to worry!" Dawn dismissed. "Accidents happen. But… speaking of that, I've got to get Buneary to Nurse Joy. Thanks for a well-fought battle!" Dawn took Pomme's hand to shake, before running offstage.

"It's not too bad, is it?"

Dawn anxiously brushed a hand through her long, flowing locks, frowning as Nurse Joy did a quick impromptu inspection of Buneary at the counter; mostly to ease Dawn's worries, since there was little she could do before taking the Pokémon for further treatment.

"Mmm… I wouldn't say so!" Nurse Joy smiled. "You got here rather quickly, after the match. My guess is that her eyes are just irritated. Now, let me take her back for a proper inspection, and-"

"Dawn!" Platform boots clacked against the tile floor. Ciara rushed over to her acquaintance, stopping to catch her breath. "Dawn… I just… We…"

"Easy," Dawn soothed, putting on an exasperated smile. "Just take a breath, alright?"

The lavender-haired girl did as told, before speaking up again. "I just… wanted to check with you. Is your Buneary alright…? That whole battle was… a tad much, don't you think?"

"Oh, yeah! Thanks for checking." Dawn smiled, nodding. "That whole thing really was worst-case scenario. Using a poisonous move in a Pokémon's eyes is considered bad form, since it can actually hurt them, if you're not careful."

"But luckily, Dawn brought her in long before that could happen. So, Buneary's going to be just fine!" Nurse Joy soothed, once more.

"...To think battles can backfire so easily." The girl was trembling, Dawn noticed.

"These things just happen sometimes," Dawn dismissed, shaking her head. "As long as you're a caring and competent trainer, though, there's no need to worry!"

The girl's brows furrowed, as she poked her index fingers together. Dawn seemed so… flippant. Was this the kind of hazard she might encounter, when they faced each other in the final round?

"...Oh!" Ciara squeaked, drawing Dawn and Joy's attention. "I almost forgot. Th-they said that our battle will begin in just a few minutes! We'd… better hurry."

"Oh dear! And I'll have to judge." Nurse Joy gasped. "Chansey, can you care for Buneary, until I return? Give her some topical antidote and wash out her eyes, please."

"Chansey~!" The Egg Pokémon popped in from the next room, saluting Nurse Joy. Shortly after, she returned with a stretcher for Buneary, which the Nurse set her down upon, and carted her away.

"She's in good hands," Nurse Joy assured. "Now, I have to go! I'm sure you'll both give us a good show!" With that, she rushed through a door behind the counter, presumably towards the judge's box.

"Take care, Buneary!" Dawn waved, then turned to Ciara, giving a sunny smile, despite it all. "Now, let's get out there and kick some butt, Ciara!"

"Eep!" She squeaked, quickly feeling embarrassed, as a dark flush overtook her cheeks. "...Y-yes. Let's!"

The spotlight shone down on both the sporty, but fashionable Dawn, and the cutesy, pastel-clad Ciara. These two coordinators each had their own committed sense of style, but today, they would take the backseat to show off their talented partners.

The former wore a cool, eager smile, ocean-blue hues fixed squarely on her opponent. The latter pursed her lips, anxiously adjusting her round spectacles. The difference in even their postures was visible at a glance. How would their demeanors reflect in the coming battle…?

"Thank you for waiting, everyone! Without further ado, it's time for the final round of the Vermilion Pokémon Contest! The demure Fire-type user, Ciara, will face off with the multi-talented Dawn!" Lilian, the emcee, built up anticipation for the coming battle, shouting her words of excitement into her earpiece. "With five minutes on the clock… Let's get busy!"

Dawn took the initiative with excited enthusiasm, twirling to toss a spinning Poké Ball underhanded. "Prinplup… Spotlight!"

Prinplup was summoned from a flash of light, falling from where he'd been called to stick a smooth landing with one wing pressed coolly to the well-polished floor. Standing up from the cool-looking crouch, he aired out his wings proudly. "Prinplup!"

Ciara clutched her chosen Poké Ball close to her chest, breathing in before tossing it overhand. "Vulpix… Charm up!"

"Vul~!" Vulpix somersaulted onto all fours. As soon as the shiny, golden fox appeared, a bright light shone over the field that eclipsed the spotlights in both heat and intensity.

"Oh, and it seems that Vulpix's ability is Drought! It's set the stage with harsh sunlight, which should create quite the uphill battle for Dawn and Prinplup!" Lilian explained.

"It's so bright." Dawn winced, guarding her eyes with her hand. "So, Prinplup's water moves will be weaker, and her fire moves come out stronger." A disadvantage, but nothing worth despairing over. Nonetheless, Dawn did frown. 'That's a great ability, but Ciara had basically no fanfare about it… It could've been a great opening move to rack up points! She really ISN'T experienced with actual contests!'

Oblivious to Dawn's scrutiny, Ciara opened the battle. "Vulpix! Flame Burst!"

"Vul!" Vulpix opened her mouth, spitting out a large, radiant fireball. Golden embers rained from its surface as it passed, putting on a beautiful display.

"Prinplup! Hydro Pump!" Dawn commanded.

Prinplup steadied his stance, and spat out powerful torrent that crossed the fray. Although weakened, it was no less impressive than an ordinary one he'd employ as a Piplup. Better yet, Sunny Day highlighted the waters with a healthy shimmer!

Hydro Pump and Flame Burst collided, exploding into a thick steam that washed over the arena floor.

"Their moves are evenly matched," Lilian narrated. "And gorgeous, too!"

Dawn and Ciara's points both dropped a tad, equally.

"Vulpix, use Confuse Ray!"

Vulpix's eyes shone a bright purple, before a haunting howl launched several glowing rings of the same hue into the steam. Obscured by the thick white, the rays could just barely be seen. The result was rather haunting, and this showed in a drop to Dawn's points!

Getting confused could only make a disaster of this battle, Dawn figured. "Prinplup, use Bubble Beam!"

"Priiin-lup-lup-lup!" Prinplup spat a barrage of foam into the clearing steam. It didn't take long for the bubbles to collide with Vulpix's Confuse Ray. It was no mystery to any onlookers, either, as the steam burst open to show off a chain reaction of explosive pops. The eerie purple reflected in the foam, showing off a gorgeous reflection of Ciara's own move.

Ciara's points dropped further than Dawn's. The girl gasped, then collected herself, pointing forward. "U-use Quick Attack!"

The golden fox made a swift charge for Prinplup, aiming to crash into him. But just as she lunged, Prinplup twirled around, making her fly on by with no purchase!

"...! Again!" Ciara ordered.

Vulpix skidded to a halt, slowing her momentum before turning around to shoot forward, again.

"Dance around it, Prinplup! One more time!" Dawn coached. Her starter had come a long way since evolving in Mulberry, and the training with Clefairy was bearing fruit. She watched her starter tuck in his wing and sidestep Vulpix. "Now, Metal Claw!"

"Priiin…!" In the brief moment Ciara's Vulpix passed him, Prinplup used the opportunity to backhand her with his wing, sending the fox soaring. Proud of himself, he sprang after Vulpix. He wasn't quite as limber as he'd been as a Piplup, but he was getting the hang of this!

Enough, at least, for a straight forward lunge. Once he'd caught up with Vulpix, he spun, smacking Vulpix to the ground with the metallic end of his wing. "Prin!"

"Wow! Vulpix's speed is proving no match for the smooth, stylish moves of Prinplup! Even at a type disadvantage, Metal Claw scored some solid hits!"

"Oh, dear…!" Ciara's lips creased, as she watched her points drop down to half. "Vulpix, are you okay…!?"

The grounded Pokémon whined, dealing with a dull pain in the back of her head. But, she wouldn't fail her trainer that easily. She got back on her feet and barked to Ciara. "Vul!"

The girl nodded quietly. What a foe she was up against… Dawn wasn't enthusiastic about contests without good reason. She was formidable! "Good! Then, use Flame Burst!"

"Vulpix!" Vulpix launched another fireball.

"Dodge that, Prinplup!" Dawn declared coolly, with a commanding wave of her arm.

"Prin!" Prinplup pranced once more, tossing his weight in an efficient circle to twirl his way out of Flame Burst, as the move scorched where he'd just stood. A proper show of flexibility, if he could say so, himself… but, why did he smell smoke…!?

"Ah! Prinplup!" Dawn exclaimed, hands framing her face in worry. "Your cape!"

"...Lup?" Prinplup looked over his shoulder. Then, he let out a frantic squawk, as he noticed that his cape was on fire! It was all he could do to run about in panic, patting the flames down with his wings. Hot, hot, hot…!

"Ugh…" Dawn frowned, holding the side of her face in shame. "How embarrassing…!"

The consequence for Dawn's negligence came, when her score dropped to about two thirds full. Of course; the embers pouring off of Flame Burst weren't just for show - they could do environmental damage, too! She'd been outsmarted, and embarrassed.

"Ouch! The side effects of Flame Burst have put Prinplup on ice! ...Or on fire, as it were, haha! A smart play from Ciara that outwitted Dawn!"

'No need to rub it in,' Dawn thought spitefully. Once her starter put out his flame, she resumed. "Prinplup, use Bubble Beam!"

"Priin-lup!" Prinplup returned fire, indignant and eager to retaliate.

"Vulpix, Flame Burst!" Ciara countered. Vulpix's rolling fire collided with the wall of foam, and promptly burst into several, smaller projectiles. The sun-nerfed Bubble Beam began to pop and scatter in the embers, allowing Vulpix to command attention with glimmering bubbles and embers, scattering away like magical fairy dust before the audience's very eyes.

"She's really good," Dawn muttered, as her points took a dive to just above Ciara's.

"Will-o-Wisp!" Ciara ordered. Vulpix pranced forward, and spat a ghoulish blue flame, contrasting wonderfully with her lustrous golden coat. It hovered in erratic patterns, not unlike a ghost-type, closing in on Prinplup.

"Not that move…!" Dawn's brows furrowed. They couldn't afford a burn. "Dodge that, Prinplup!"

Prinplup was face-to-face with Will-o-Wisp. He wasn't about to suffer what Pikachu had gone through! A swing and a twirl brought him just short of getting scorched - he even had to lean back to avoid it grazing his belly! "Lup~!"

Ciara's face scrunched up. Despite the setback, though, she didn't look at all deterred. In fact, she had something up her sleeve. "Jump above Prinplup, and use Confuse Ray, Vulpix!"

Vulpix dashed forward and jumped, soaring gracefully over Prinplup and the Will-o-Wisp. She pointed herself directly downward, and her eyes lit with the same purple huge that rained down over Prinplup in rings. Was she attempting to cover up for the failed burn with confusion…?

Confuse Ray's winding influence caught onto Will-o-Wisp, dragging the wandering flame into an orbit around Prinplup. The fire turned from blue to an intense violet, trailed by Confuse Ray's influence, like the tail of a comet.

"Lup!" Prinplup squawked, looking around in a panic.

"Ooh, what a combination! Ciara has cornered Prinplup by taking control of her own errant Will-o-Wisp! What will Dawn do, now!?"

"That Will-o-Wisp…!" Ash leaned forward in his seat. "She's controlling it with Confuse Ray. Even after it missed!" There was no denying that he was concerned for Dawn and Prinplup, but the trainer couldn't stop the gears from turning in his head.

A wry smile picked up on the trainer's lips. "That's it!"

"Pika?" Pikachu tilted his head towards Ash.

"Buddy," Ash smiled, scratching the back of Pikachu's head. "...I think I just found our answer to Surge!"

"Prinplup, use Whirlpool as a Counter Shield!" Dawn commanded, with her mind focused squarely on the battle before her.

"Priiin… plup!" Prinplup extended his wings, conjuring a roaring cyclone about his body.

Will-o-Wisp collided with the waters, bouncing off and skipping along its glimmering surface when its initial path was blocked. Perhaps in prime conditions, Whirlpool would dispel it into mist… but under the flames, Whirlpool was flimsy, and Will-o-Wisp burned brighter.

Dawn gasped. Steam hissed away as Whirlpool's core evaporated. Will-o-Wisp struck Prinplup, igniting him with a bright purple flame. "Oh, no! Prinplup!"

"Ohhh, tough break for Prinplup! Dawn's signature Counter Shield can often do her wonders, but not under the harsh sunlight! Ciara's clever combination overpowered, and now Prinplup is left with a burn!"

While Lilian narrated, Dawn took a brief peek at the scoreboard. Her own points had dropped below Ciara's! "Looks like we're losing, now… you've put us in a pretty tough spot, you guys!"

"Prin…" Prinplup knelt, brushing the last of the embers that clung to him off his wing. With a hiss of pain, he pushed himself back on his feet, taking a wide stance with his wings wielded like a knight's blade and shield. "Prinnnnplup!"

All of the pieces were falling in Ciara's favor. She was ahead of Dawn in points, the weather favored Vulpix and her attacks, and Prinplup was stuck with an attack-dulling status affliction. If Ciara could exploit that momentum, she could beat Dawn!

...But why were her legs trembling, then? Why did any attempt to squeak out a command sit heavy in her throat? Was it the dry air? Certainly not; all of Prinplup's evaporated Water-type moves made sure of that.

No. She had to be honest with herself. It was the cool steadiness of Dawn's eyes. The excitement in her voice, despite her situation. Prinplup and his valiant stubbornness. Did they have something up their sleeves…? Was there yet another trick that Dawn could pull out to stump her!? 'Maybe Flame Burst… no, Quick Attack! It'll hit faster. But, Prinplup already dodged it, before… maybe Confuse Ray!'

While Ciara deliberated, Dawn took the reins. "Prinplup!" She declared, confidence heavy in her tone as she gestured to the ceiling, before swinging her hand down. "Use Whirlpool!"

Prinplup made a wide, deliberate gesture over his head, conjuring a spinning top of a whirlpool over his head, as Water-type Pokémon were wont to do. With a cry of his name, he tossed it overhead towards Ciara's Vulpix. Although feeble under the sun, it spun beautifully, all the same.

It dwarfed Vulpix, regardless.

"V-Vulpix… use Confu-"

Vulpix howled. Whirlpool crashed into her tiny frame, and swept her up in a battering spiral.

"Ciara failed to act, and it looks like Vulpix has been caught up in Whirlpool, without a command given! Is this the end of the final round!?"

"Let's go, Prinplup!" Dawn beamed, cutting her hands through the air. "Finish it, with Metal Claw!"

Whirlpool teetered back and forth, with all of the stability a weakened move could manage, preserving itself while the user sprinted in for the kill. Prinplup's deep-blue visage was reflected in the turning waters, when he lunged in with wings spread wide.

A cross was cleaved in Whirlpool, with silver light trailing Prinplup's follow through. He landed in front of Ciara, crouched with his Metal Claw crossed over his torso. Like a samurai in a movie tailored to dramatic effect, he ended the Whirlpool in a flash of mist behind him.

Vulpix fell to the stage floor, unconscious.

"Aaaand, that's a knockout! With a stunning Metal Claw-Whirlpool combination, Prinplup just made Dawn this Vermilion City Contest's winner! Now, let's put our hands together for both competitors!"

The roaring cheers of the crowd rolled in. Dawn waved, but she couldn't tear her mind away from the match that just transpired. Her eyes drifted back to where her opponent had stood. "Hey, Ciara…!"

The girl was already escaping the stage. Dawn signed, lowering her outstretched hand.

"Lup…?" Prinplup tilted his head.

Dawn shook her head. "Don't worry, Prinplup. Let's go accept our ribbon, and get you patched up!"

Prinplup fortunately made it through the closing ceremony, just so he could gloat with Dawn over their ribbon on stage. He'd collapsed just after the fact; a true testament to his pride, if nothing else! This led Dawn to Nurse Joy's counter, behind the scenes, where she'd just dropped off her starter's Poké Ball.

The Nurse took it, and returned to Dawn with a tray that seated a brown rabbit with cream, cottony wool. Buneary was still squinting, occasionally rubbing at her eyes. "...And here's your Buneary! Like I said, it's nothing serious. Just give her these eye drops every two hours," Joy instructed, as she handed over a small paper bag. "...And let her get plenty of rest, tonight. She should be back to normal by morning!"

"Thank you so much, Nurse Joy." Dawn bowed her head in appreciation. "That's great news! Still… I'm a little bummed out that you couldn't see the final round, yourself," she addressed Buneary, patting the Pokémon's head.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that." Joy giggled. "She may not have seen it with her own eyes, but she was listening in, the entire time! Buneary's ears picked up the whole thing."

Said ears were put to work, poking around until Buneary figured out which direction Dawn stood in, and she put all her faith into her trainer, leaping into her arms. "Bun! Bun-Buneary!"

Dawn giggled. "Well, I'm glad you kept your spirits up, Buneary! Sooner or later, I'm sure you'll star in the battle rounds, too… speaking of those, I hope Prinplup isn't too much trouble. You saw his stubborn attitude, onstage…"

"He sure is a prideful one." Joy smiled, shaking her head. "I'll get to him in just a few minutes; I have another patient to care for, first."

"Another…?" It only occurred to Dawn, then, that they likely weren't alone. Looking over her shoulder, she spotted Ciara, who'd been quietly keeping to herself on a nearby bench. "Ciara!"

Ciara tucked her shoulders in, shrinking as if she didn't want to be noticed. But, the jig was up. "Y-yes!" She walked over to Dawn, and squeaked out a "congratulations!"

"Oh, thanks!" Dawn giggled. "I had a lot of fun! Your moves were so great! But… you know," Dawn continued, adopting a more neutral expression, "you kind of froze up, right at the end."

The lavender-haired girl went to great lengths to avoid eye contact. "...Y-yeah, well. I was kind of psyched out, to tell you the truth."

"Psyched out?" Dawn blinked. "How come?"

"You and Prinplup… even after Will-o-Wisp put him in a bad spot, neither of you even second-guessed continuing the match." Ciara frowned, lightly tugging at her sleeve. "I couldn't help but feel like you're both on a completely different level from us. As much as I hate to say it, I couldn't imagine beating you."

"Bun…?" Buneary shifted around in Dawn's arms. She'd felt her trainer's grip on her tighten subconsciously.

"So, that's what it was... " Dawn was, frankly, unsure what to think. "I'm happy I won the ribbon. But I can't help but be angry that I might've only won, just because I got lucky." After all of the work her and her Pokémon put in, it kind of felt like a smack in the face.

"...I'm confused," Ciara replied. "Are you angry, or not?"

"...Yes."

A tense, awkward silence came between the two. Some odd combination of frustration and guilt lingered in each, to varying degrees. Neither was all that conducive to picking up a conversation.

Both could thank their lucky stars, when Nurse Joy broke the silence.

"Excuse me, Ciara!" She chimed, drawing the girls' attention. "Your Vulpix is fighting fit." Sitting atop the counter was her shiny Vulpix, her golden tails wagging giddily behind her.

"Vul~!"

"Oh, thank you!" Ciara rushed up to the counter, more than happy to escape the situation. "How're you doing, Vulpix? You're not hurt, are you?"

Vulpix jumped into her arms, answering her question. Ciara giggled.

Dawn smiled at the scene. "...So, are you going to keep doing contests?"

"...Well." Ciara trailed off, looking down upon her Vulpix, before recalling her to her ball. "It seems like Vulpix really enjoyed herself… and I had fun, too! Even if I lost." The girl shyly rubbed her arm, and gathered the courage to meet Dawn's gaze. "Thank you for encouraging me, Dawn."

"Oh, it's no problem!" Dawn chirped. "And hey, if you really want to thank me, then you can promise me a proper rematch! It's rare I get to battle someone as strong as you."

"That better not be a jab at me, 'cause I whooped your butt, the last time we battled!" Ash chided as he entered the room, making it clear he'd eavesdropped just a bit. Pikachu flicked his tail, looking just as smug as his trainer.

"Yeah, yeah. Lay it on thick, why don't you?" Dawn rolled her eyes. Meanwhile, Buneary seemed to recognize that Pikachu was present, simply because Ash could be heard. She squirmed around in Dawn's arms. "Bun!"

Pikachu seemed to notice, crawling down Ash's shoulder to check on Buneary. "Pika chu?"

Buneary buried her face in her fluff, despite barely being able to see two feet in front of her. The two continued to chatter and laugh, clearly discussing her recent battle.

Meanwhile, Ciara clutched her hands over her chest, catching the implications of their banter. "...Is Ash really that strong?"

"Strong enough," Dawn shot Ash a look, somewhere between proud and miffed.

"Strong enough to go four-zi-"

"Enough, Ash!" Dawn shouted over him.

Ciara was starting to piece together that she was a little out of place, now that the group had reunited, and she piped up. "Erm, I should probably go call my parents! Excuse me, Dawn. Ash!"

"Bye, Ciara!" Ash and Dawn saw her off in unison.

"...She's interesting." Ash remarked, watching the girl leave. "...So, Dawn! Congratulations on your ribbon!"

"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu piled on the praise.

"Huh? Oh, yeah! Thanks," Dawn stammered out, smiling weakly.

"...You don't seem as excited as you should be." Ash deduced, frowning.

"...Well, the thing is. I realized that Ciara probably could've done better than she really did. How am I supposed to know that I deserve my ribbon, if I might've lost?"

To Dawn's surprise, Ash didn't answer immediately. She expected a quick vote of confidence for her success, regardless, or cheerful reassurance. Instead, he blinked a couple times. His eyes had a look of clarity in them. One Dawn recognized as a sign that he'd had some sort of epiphany. "...Ash?"

Ash shook his head. "I totally get what you mean. It's frustrating, right? But, hey. I think I've got some info that'll cheer you right up!"

Dawn thought to ask how Ash could possibly relate to this situation, but one curiosity won out over another. "Oh, yeah? What's that?"

"The thing is…" Ash grinned, and with a flick of his index and middle fingers, swerved his cap backwards atop his head. "Your battle with Ciara just gave me the key to defeating Surge!"

"What? No way!" Dawn beamed. Her enthusiasm had returned as if Ash had just flipped a switch. "Now, this I'll have to see! Buneary, let's cheer Ash and Pikachu on, all the way!"

"Bun Bun!" There were no objections from the very enthusiastic Buneary. Tomorrow would be a sight to see!