Scene 58: Kari's Kanto Contest Debut!
The drapes are drawn over the window to block the sunlight, but the sounds from the town are still able to be heard in the room. Kari has her face in the pillow. She winces, in an in-between state of sleep, but what was with all that noise?
She rolls over to the side, covering her ears with the pillow now. She lies there for a total of 60 seconds before jumping up, "GAH! How am I supposed to get any sleep with all that noise!?" Eevee jumps awake at her outburst. She drags herself out of the bed and goes to the window. She pulls the drapes aside and they're both blinded momentarily. Once her eyes are able to adjust, Kari notices all the people milling about. Some are dressed up and kids are running around with sheer excitement. Lining the street lamps were festive decor of bright colors. She rubs the sleep out of her eyes. What could be going on..?
Downstairs, Kari goes to Nurse Joy and asks, "What's going on?" Nurse Joy pulls at a small book in front of her, waving at a boy leaving the desk, "Oh, didn't you know? It's the Silver Town Pokémon Contest!" Kari blinks, "A Pokémon Contest?" She remembers the flyer from the Institute. Digging in her backpack, Kari finds it.
"I almost forgot about that. They must be really popular, huh?" Nurse Joy nods, "It's become more and more popular in the recent years thanks to the influence of other Regions." She goes on to explain about Contest for Kari, "It's much different from your typical Pokémon battle. In Contests, the Coordinator must showcase not only their Pokémon's abilities and power, but they must Appeal to their judges and audience members. It's like a big show. They're very fun and exciting." Just hearing about it all is getting Kari excited. She's jumping on the tips of her toes, "I wanna try!" Nurse Joy giggles, "Well, you're in luck. There's still time to Register for today's contest. We can do it right now." Nurse Joy taps a few buttons on her computer and asks for Kari's Trainer Card
"Oh… Uhm." Kari hands over her Pokédex. Nurse Joy takes a moment to figure out how to use the little device. She clicks a button, "Well this is certainly new." Kari shrugs, "Prof. Oak says it's a prototype."
"Oh, I see. Then I better get used to the idea- I'm sure in a couple years these things will be everywhere." After a couple minutes, Kari is registered. Nurse Joy returns her Pokédex and hands over the Contest Trainer Card. It's a pink color with the Contest Committee's insignia of a Ribbon & Pokéball at its center. Kari holds the card as if was precious gold. Now that she's all ready, Kari can't wait.
Following the rest of the crowd Kari manages to find her way to the Silver Town Contest Hall. Inside there are hundreds of people looking around at the many displays. There were people sitting in the lobby chairs sharing recipes for something called "Pokéblocks" and many Trainers walking around trading secrets on how best to raise their Pokémon. Though a bit intimidated by the crowd, Kari does her best to calm her nerves. She goes to stand in a corner and out of the way.
After about an hour a voice calls over the intercom, "Attention all Coordinators participating in today's Pokémon Contest, please make your way to the greenroom at this time." Kari unsticks herself from the wall and looks around- where did she need to go now?
She noticed some people waving to each other and splitting off, some headed to grab seats and others headed towards a door nearby. As more and more Trainers made their way to the backroom, a small line began to form. Kari went to join the queue.
The line was moving slowly as they all made their way through the offset room. It seemed that some of the Trainers around her knew each other as they talked rapidly, catching up from the last time they met. As Kari neared the front of the line, she was stopped. The lady at the desk looks at her kindly, "Sorry Sweetie, but Competitors only beyond this point."
Kari blinks, "Oh! I know that…" She reaches for the Contest Trainer Card in her pocket, showing it to the lady. The lady is confused, looking her up and down. But without another word, she permits Kari to pass.
As Kari joins the others in the greenroom she notices the strange looks they're giving her. She ignores them. Kari got used to the stares and the whispers a long time ago, back at the Team Rocket Academy. The room is lined with mirrors and benches for the Coordinators to prep themselves for the show. Some were standing and stretching with their Pokémon, a few were meeting with old friends while others were starting to crow around a large TV screen, waiting for the Contest to begin.
Kari sat on one of the small couches in the back with a book in her hand. Nurse Joy had lent Kari a Kanto Contest Rule Book to study, and luckily, Kari was a fast learner. She flipped from page to page, speed-reading through the detailed explanations and guidelines. But when the MC took the stage and the Contest began, Kari couldn't take her eyes off the big screen. Each of the Coordinators were amazing..!
One after the other the Coordinators danced and sparkled up on that stage. The way they moved alongside their Pokémon was so great to watch- almost magical! Kari was smiling the entire time. A stagehand steps into to the room, "Kari? Kari, you're on deck!" She jumps to her feet hearing her name.
"That means you're up next." There was a girl sitting on the bench beside her. Had she been there the whole time? Kari blushes at the sight of her… She was pretty.
The girl has a round face and large eyes with long lashes. She's wearing a full-on long-sleeved Lolita dress with frills of multiple bright colors. Her long black hair is up in two cute buns like cute mouse ears and her face is sparkling with soft shades of rainbow-colored makeup that is perfectly blended. Kari is taken by the girl's beauty. She stands, smiling at Kari. She's at least over a foot taller than the small girl.
"I'm Nachi. Nice to meet you. This your first Contest?" Kari nods. Nachi takes Kari's hand, "Don't be nervous, ok! Just make sure you have fun- blow those judges out of the water!" Nachi winks. Kari can't help but smile at the girl, "T-thanks!" And taking her eyes off the strange girl's amber eyes, she leaves for the stage.
Kari waits in the wings for her name to be called. She takes a deep breath, thinking. She had been watching all the Coordinators before her and observing their performance styles… She had been considering what kind of show she wanted to put on ever since she left Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center… But could she really pull it off..?
Vee! Eevee! Kari looks back at her friend. He's giving her a reassuring look of confidence, his tail wagging. Kari's thankful for his support. She looks down at the Pokéball in her hand. She clenches it tighter. [ "Eevee's right. We can do this! After all, we've been waiting… And what better time for it to happen than today? ]
Lilian Meridian, MC for the Kanto Contest Circuit, calls for the next Coordinator to take the stage. At the sound of her name, Kari dashes forward. Just as she'd seen the other Coordinators do it- Kari jumps and throws the Pokéball. "Alrighty! Leeeet's do this- Go, Metapod!" The light from the Pokéball dissipates and reveals her Pokémon to the audience. It quiet. Some people are staring, others are trying not to laugh out loud.
Metapod, being the type of Pokémon it is, just sits on the stage. Lilian looks to the panel of judges, trying to remedy the situation, "Well, that was a nice entrance for her first time, don't you think?" They all nod, but no one is impressed so far. Metapod just isn't very interesting. Everyone is confused. The girl in the back, Nachi, is watching on the TV. She cocks her head to the side, "I wonder what that girl's up to..?"
Kari can see the look on the audience's and judge's faces. But no worries. She looks to Metapod. She nods, smiling encouragingly, [ "But if I timed this right…" ] "Use String Shot!" Meta-poooood! She shoots the string directly above. The tough string is sparkling under the florescent lights. It spirals high above before enshrouding Metapod. There's a sudden burst of light in the middle of the stage. Lillian and the others are all entranced with the scene, "Looks like something's happening now, folks!"
"It's time..!" The cocoon Metapod had created begins to crack. Out of the web comes the newly evolved Butterfree! The audience gives a gasp in awe followed by loud "Ooh's" & "Aah's" as Butterfree takes a lap. Even the judges are impressed with the presentation!
"A Poke'mon evolving in the middle of a Contest? Remarkable!"
"A beautiful display of the power of nature." Mr. Contesta nods in agreement.
"And it definitely shows the bond between Poke'mon and Trainer. It wouldn't be able to evolve otherwise." Nurse Joy smiles, catching Kari's eye.
Having just evolved, there's a soft bit of sparkle falling from Butterfree as she flies around the room. Kari uses her Pokédex to check Butterfree's new moves. She gets an idea, "Butterfree! Use Confusion on that string!" She returns at Kari's call, her eyes glowing. Butterfree manipulates the leftover String Shot and makes fun shapes in the air- first a flower, then a heart, a Pokéball, a star… Kari calls out to her, "Now disperse it!" Butterfree nods and uses Gust. The string is brought into a tight ball with the psychic power. Butterfree flies up high and flaps her powerful new wings, tearing the string apart and allowing it to fall onto the stage like a cool bout of snow, glistening under the lights.
As the music comes to an end, Butterfree takes a landing atop Kari's hat and they strike a pose. Appeals Round- Done! It takes a moment for the crowd to react. One, then another- slowly there's applause. The crowd is cheering for their performance! Some are even on their feet. With her arms spread wide and her heart beating so fast, Kari just can't stop smiling. She can't believe the way performing made her feel…[ "Pokémon Contests… are so awesome!" ]
{Current Team: Eevee, Metapod - Butterfree, Ekans, Sandshrew, Poliwhirl, Bulbasaur}}
Eevee: Tackle, Swift, Shadow Ball, Hyper Beam
Butterfree: Tackle, String Shot, - Gust, - Confusion
Arbok: Wrap, Bite, Poison Sting - Acid, Glare
Sandshrew: Dig, Rollout, Aerial Ace, Sand Tomb
Poliwhirl: Water Gun - Scald, Double Slap, Body Slam, Rain Dance
Bulbasaur: Tackle, Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Energy Ball
Total Pokémon: Eevee, *Pidgeot, *Raticate, Butterfree, *Beedrill, Ceffairy, Spearow, Ekans, Sandshrew, Goldeen, Poliwhirl, Jolteon, Drowzee, Horsea, Tentacool, Magikarp, Psyduck, Slowpoke, Magnemite, Voltorb, Zapdos, Elekid, Gastly…