Scene 45: The Commerce City Contest

Shelly Arc

"We're here for the Commerce City Contest, atop the highest skyscraper I've ever been on..! Yeesh!" Lilian peers over the side from where she stands onstage. It's a makeshift stage that's brought out only for special events with audience stands spread out over the lush green park. Locals of Commerce City, as well as Contest Fans take their seats as Lilian introduces the judges: Mr. Contesta, Director of the Contest Committee, Mr. Sukizo, President of the Pokémon Fan Club, and Commerce Town's very own Nurse Joy. Lilian does a spin, excited to get things rolling, "We're ready up here folks, so I hope our contestants are, too! So let's get busy!" The crowd cheers.

Shelly pokes her head out from behind the stage and gulps. Now that she was here she was starting to get nervous. Her stomach was in knots. She thinks back to this morning:

…

"Are you seriously still following me?" Payne looks over his shoulder. Shelly sticks her tongue out at him, "Only because we're both headed to the Contest Hall, is all! I just figured I'd make sure you didn't get lost, you know..?" He chuckles, "Yeah, right. In that case, why don't you lead the way?" He steps to the side to let her pass. Shelly laughs nervously, "Sure! No problem! It's this way, of course- follow me!" She points to her left down the street and is about to walk off when Payne pulls at her, shaking his head, "Try, this way." He guides her wrist towards the sky, pointing at the top of the tallest building.

They ride the glass elevator all the way to the top. Shelly's seen a ton of well-dressed people, some Contest Goers and others just here to watch. Payne explains how the well-to-do town is full of rich people and mansions, "The city is full of businessmen and women who live well above the average person. Garden-top skyscrapers are the norm." The door opens and lets them out onto a lavish sea of green. Shelly can't believe she's on top of a building, "No way..!"

They walk through the tables of snacks towards the stage where are registered Coordinators are setting up. Shelly looks all around her, "These people don't really look all that into Contests." Payne laughs, "They're not, well not really… You see, the Contest Committee puts on a raffle to decide where the Contests should take place at the start of each season. It's only natural for a city that's all about looking better than the rest would want such publicity." He shrugs, "I doubt any of them really care who wins up on that stage, but…" She looks up at him, "That doesn't mean we should give any less of aa show."

…

Shelly takes a deep breath. Payne had been right. Just because the people out there cared more about the publicity this Contest gave their city rather than the actual competition, didn't mean they should start slacking now!

The music begins and the first Coordinator takes to the stage! One right after the other Pokémon and Coordinator put on their very own performance of a lifetime! Shelly can't take her eyes off the big screen. Lilian steps forward to introduce the next contestant and out from behind the curtain comes a familiar face! It's Marie!

The same girl who competed against Shelly at the Chrysanthemum Contest! Marie gives her Pokéball a little kiss, "Let's go my sweet! Teddiursa!" The Teddiursa does a spin in the air, landing in a pose on the stage. As she and Marie start dancing and putting on their performance, Shelly's eyes leave the stage for a moment. She can't believe it… Hardly anyone is watching..! But how? How are they not being entranced by Marie's and Teddiursa's cute appeal?

"Baby-Doll Eyes!" And combined with their Double-Team Attack- extra cute appeal! Marie and Teddiursa blow a kiss towards the audience to complete their act. Lilian gives a squeal, "I don't know about you, but I am head over heels for that sweet little Teddiursa!" Marie waves to the crowd as they head backstage. Her shoulders slump and she gives a sigh, "Guess that wasn't too bad, huh?"

"Are kidding me!? That was amazing!" Shelly comes running up to her. Marie recognizes her, "Hey, it's you. From Chrysanthemum Island, right?" Shelly nods, "Uh-huh! Shelly! And what you did out there was really great!" She leans forward and pets the Teddiursa in Marie's arms, "And you sure are a cutie!" Marie smiles, "Thanks, but… That audience didn't think much of me, that's for sure…" She looks down at her feet, thinking. Shelly wonders why she looks so sad… Could something have happened..?

"Shelly? You're up on deck!" The stagehand calls over to her. She jumps at the sound of her name, "Oh! Sure! Coming!" Shelly gives Marie a thumbs up, "And, hey! Don't you worry about those people out there, kay?" She runs off leaving Marie dumbstruck.

Shelly pokes her head out as the Coordinator before her gives a performance. Her eyebrows furrow in anger [ "How dare those people just sit there eating and drinking their gourmet au devoirs and act like we don't even exist! I'll show them!" ] Munchlax takes a hesitant step back at the sight of flames coming from Shelly's eyes.

"And now for our next contestant! Coming fresh from her first Contest Victory back on Chrysanthemum Island- it's Shelly!" She jumps onstage and throws her Pokéball, a flood of bubbles erupting along with her Staryu thanks to the Seal. Lilian is thrown off-balance at the surprise entrance. She laughs to herself, "Now that's not something you see everyday in Kanto Contests!" She stands and clears her breath, "But it's still spectacular to watch, that's for sure!"

Shelly looks out at the audience. She remembers the look on Marie's face as she came off-stage. She still couldn't believe what Payne had told her- what even was the point of attending a Contest if you weren't going to enjoy the show? A reddish glare shines her eyes to match her evil smile, [ "Then I'll just make you pay attention!" ]

Back on Chrysanthemum Island Shelly's mother, Cleo, calls to the others from the living room, "It's finally her turn! Hurry!" She turns her attention back to the television as Shelly prepares her first move.

She notices the tall tables all around and the glamorous decor, "There! Staryu! Let's start off with a Rapid Spin Attack!" Hi-ya! She takes off at a spin, throwing herself at the tables and lights, sending the audience members screaming and flailing.

"Uh-oh! Looks like Staryu is a bit off course, I think..!" Lilian can't help but smile to herself at the looks of their rude viewers. Marie and the other Coordinators are shocked by Shelly's performance. Payne bursts out into a fit of laughter.

Marie turns to look at him, "Is she crazy!? She could get in real trouble, you know!" Payne wipes a tear and looks down at the girl, "Are you kidding? For what?" He turns his attention back to the television screen, raising an eyebrow, "Guess I was wrong about you… You have a kind of spunk like she did." He shakes his head, still laughing. Payne turns to Marie wanting to help her understand, "Don't you get it? She's forcing them to look at her..!" They both look back, "She's demanding their attention..!"

Axel & Nick come from the yard into the living room to sit and join Cleo on the couch. They notice the screams coming from the TV set. Nick looks over, "Uhm… What did we miss..?" Cleo takes a calm sip of her tea, a sly smirk on her face, "Oh, nothing. Shelly's just proving a point, is all.

Having collected the various table cloths and hanging lights, much to the crowd's dismay, Staryu flies overhead. Shelly calls to her, "Keep up with the Rapid Spin, Staryu, and use Water Gun!" As she continues to spin a spout of water shoots out sending everything high into the sky. The mix of lights and water and torn sheets fall together, glistening in the sunlight. The crowd is stunned into silence. Even Lilian is searching for the right words, "Well will you look at that! It's like a beautiful fountain of lights! Amazing!"

And with their performance complete, Staryu races back to Shelly's side and the two bow. A moment of silence passes. Shelly stands and turns on her heel, but before she's completely gone from the stage there's an eruption of applause. She turns back, her eyes wide. Everyone is standing… Standing for their performance..!

"Oh, wow! Looks like the crowd is asking for a standing ovation! That's certainly a first for a Commerce City Contest!" It's hard for Shelly to express the intense heat rising within her… The feeling of the crowd- that applause..!

Backstage Shelly stops to catch her breath. She looks at Staryu and Munchlax, "Did that really happen?" Munchlax smiles up at her and nods.

Shelly's family are applauding her work from their home, Axel in tears at the sight of his daughter. Cleo puts her cup down and nods approvingly, "That's our little girl!"

Payne gives a heavy sigh from atop the stage. He shakes his head, "Jeeze… Did you have to make such a mess?" But even with all the stuff having been tossed around the ground, Shelly did what she went out there to do. Payne smiles as he looks out- every single audience member was watching them now..! He nods, "Alright then. Let's do this!"

After Payne's performance each of the following Coordinators put on their best performance, their hearts lighter thanks to Shelly's work. They weren't being ignored anymore..!

"We're dwindling down to the last few seconds of the battle over here!" Shelly's Staryu is thrown back by her opponent's attack- a powerful Gust from a Pidgeotto. Staryu catches her foot into the stage, stopping herself. Even with the winds blowing them around, they couldn't stop now, "Counter with Rapid Spin!" Staryu fights the winds and makes her way towards Pidgeotto- the buzzer sounds!

They all look up. Shelly's points are low. She's lost.

…

Shelly is sitting in the stands with the rest of the audience as Payne and Marie take to the Final Round! Munchlax is sitting beside her, nibbling away at some Pokémon Food. As the match gets underway Shelly keeps her eyes to the ground… What did she do wrong? Why did she lose..?

"Hey, isn't that the girl with the Staryu?"

"Yeah! You're right!"

"Wow, that really was some performance, wasn't it?"

Shelly catches her breath when she realizes they're talking about her. These people are whispering about… her..! She may not have made it to the Finals this time, but… She raises her head, her eyes glancing around her. She caught a couple nearby looking at her, whispering behind their hands. A few people, actually. And they were smiling.

She thinks back to that feeling when she left the stage. That rush… It was the same as when she stood next to Fantina way back when… That was why she wanted to do Contests in the first place..! Shelly starts smiling.

[ "That's right. It doesn't matter that I lost today..!" ] She had been overjoyed when she said it to Munchlax and Corsola yesterday- how could she have forgotten already? She looks up into the clouds, "Guess that just means I'll have to work harder for the next Contest..!"

Shelly is standing with the rest of the crowd as Payne is awarded his 3rd Contest Ribbon. Marie, though upset, is clapping too. She sighs, thinking back. There's a grimace on her face, [" First that girl and now this… I wonder… maybe I'm not fit for this after all…" ] Marie's hands drop to her sides and she walks away. No one even sees her disappear.

"And that's the end of the Commerce City Contest- one for the history books, I'll say!" Lilian signs off and closes out the ceremony. Back in the street Shelly has her Pokégear out, "Hmm, I wonder where I should go next." A bag appears in front of her out of nowhere. She takes a step back. Payne's there again, but this time with a fresh bag of corndogs. Shelly can smell them through the wrapping. She turns with a "humph!" Payne is shocked at the cold shoulder treatment. She has her arms crossed, "I don't need any second-hand junk food from the guy that stole my Contest Ribbon..!"

Payne laughs to himself. He takes out a corndog and starts eating. He shakes the bag in front of her. She manages to ignore it until her stomach starts to growl. Her face is red.

Shelly yanks the bag out of his hands and unwraps a corndog like a fiend and starts eating. Payne isn't at all impressed with her manners. He looks over at the Pokégear, "So. Where you headed?" She turns away from him in frustration, "What's it to you, huh!?" He looks away, too, "Nothing. I was just curious." They sit in silence.

Having finished his corndog Payne tosses the garbage. He turns to leave, taking one last look at Shelly. She's still ignoring him. He blushes a little as he searches for the right words, "You know…" She turns angrily to look at him, still chomping away at the food. He doesn't look at her as he speaks, "You weren't too bad out there. For a newb, that is." Shelly stops… [ "Wait. Was that a compliment just now?" ] Payne clears out his throat, "Anyways! If you're not quite sure what to do now you ought to catch your more Pokémon; after all," he looks over his shoulder at her with a raised eyebrow, "Your pathetic little 3-mon team isn't gonna get you far in the Contests, you know."

"You should check out Route 18. Lots of interesting Pokémon out that way, if I remember right." He turns and walks away without another word. Shelly stands alone for several long minutes, confused.

"He brings me food, compliments me, then insults me right back- then he has the nerve to give me advice? What is with that guy?" She's walking with her arms crossed, contemplating her last conversation with Payne. Was he a friend? A rival? What!? And what about Marie? She didn't see her after the award ceremony. Shelly sighs, "This whole journey-thing is a lot more complicated than I thought it would be."

She stops at the edge of the city. The sign says Route 18. She grips the straps of her pack, "Humph! The only reason why I'm headed this way is because I have nothing better to do- not because Payne said I should..!" But as she walked on towards the forest she couldn't help but smile. She was grateful for that narcissistic showoff. She may not be able to quite read him, but it was nice to know she had a good friend/ enemy out there to boost her up and make her want to be better..!