Chapter 14: Cat Claws

The Castelia City Contest had Shelly nervous. Even though she had won the last contest, she knew she would have to work hard in this one. Nothing was ever guaranteed in life. Her hands shook slightly as she stood in front of a mirror behind the contest stage and made sure she looked fine. She jumped when she saw Drew's reflection behind her."

"You need to learn to relax," he said, a small smirk on his face.

Shelly spun around to face him. "Why do you care? It would be good for you if I mess up."

Drew stuffed his hands in his pocket and shrugged. "I want fair competition. I want to beat everyone at their best. That's the only way to prove that I'm the best."

That made sense to Shelly. She supposed there was something to admire in that. At least there was something more important than winning. "I guess so. Good luck out there."

Drew nodded. "Thanks. You too."

He then walked away from her, just as Astoria announced the contest. Shelly looked at the screen as the MC spoke. She was not up first, which was just fine with her. She had to wait through three performances until her name was called.

Shelly hid her nervousness as she walked onto the stage. She wore a light pink dress that accented her dark hair perfectly. She looked around at everyone in the audience, Pokeball in hand, before calling out her Pokemon. "You're up, Fluffy!"

A Flaafy appeared before her, dancing in the air until she landed on her hind feet. She looked behind her and gave her trainer an encouraging smile. Shelly nodded in understanding. They could do this!

"Ok, Fluffy, start off with Charge and follow it up with Cotton Spore!"

The Flaafy's wooly fur sparkled as she charged up her electricity. Then, suddenly, cotton spores emerged from her fur and flew into the air.

"Electro Ball!"

A yellow sphere formed in Fluffy's paws. She then hurled this ball at the cotton spores, causing an explosion of cotton and electricity.

"Finish it up with Thunder Shock!"

Fluffy cried out as sparks emitted from her cheeks. The electricity magnified the electrified spores and caused the stage to shine. She and her trainer smiled as they bowed. Then they walked to the back of the stage together.

"Good job, Fluffy," Shelly said, smiling softly at the Flaafy. "Take a rest." She returned the Pokemon and then turned to the TV screen to finish watching the performances.

She watched someone she did not recognize perform with a Tepig. Then it was Drew's turn. Shelly was impressed with the way e and his Granbull worked together. That appeared to be a powerful Pokemon. She wondered who he would choose for the battle rounds. She did not doubt he would make it.

This time, she had no one to wait with her to hear who would be moving on. She bit her lip as the pictures appeared in order. Finally, she let out a breath of relief when the last picture turned out to be hers. She had barely made it, but making it was what counted.

It turned out she was up first. She held her breath as she walked out onto the stage. A brown-haired boy named Marvin stood before her. He released a Pansage onto the stage. The girl took a deep breath before doing the same with her Meowth. The boy nodded at her to go first.

"Paws, start off with Scratch!" Shelly called. She wanted to begin with a strong physical attack and see where it went from there.

"Pansage, you use Scratch as well!" said Marvin.

The Pansage and Meowth raced towards each other. When they got close, they lifted their paws and attacked with their long claws. Their claws struck against each other like swords, and the force of the attacks caused them both to move backward.

Shelly did not let this deter her. "Growl and use Bite."

Paws moved forward again, growling lowly. The Pansage hesitated for a second too long. Paws jumped on him and bit into his skin, causing him to cry out.

"Use Vine Whip to get him off!" said Marvin.

"Flip!" cried Shelly.

Pansage wrapped his vines around Paws. He then lifted him into the air and threw him hard. The Meowth curled into a ball and flew through the air. Then he landed neatly on his feet.

"Now use Fake Out," said Shelly.

Paws moved quickly to the Pansage. He then made a quick motion, which caused the grass type to flinch and fall on his back.

"Good; now Bite!" Shelly said.

"Quick, Bullet Seed!" said the boy.

Paws leapt into the air and came crashing down on top of the Pansage, biting his neck at the last second. Pansage's Bullet Seed flew into the air and harmlessly fell down on the stage.

"Use Fury Swipes!" cried Marvin.

"Let go and use Scratch," said Shelly.

Pansage's claws grew longer, but before he could strike, Paws let go and jumped off of his belly. The Meowth scratched at him before flipping in the air and landing on his feet. He then turned to continue fighting; however, the buzzer rang.

"Time is up!" Astoria boomed into her microphone. "The coordinator moving onto the next round is... Shelly!"

Shelly smiled gratefully at her Pokemon. "Good job, Paws. Take a rest for now." She knew her problems were far from over. She returned to the back of the stage to rest until her next battle.

The pink haired girl watched the battles nervously, wondering who she would be up against next. Soon enough, there were only four coordinators remaining, including Drew. She let out a breath of relief when she saw that she was up against a girl with a Tepig. She knew how to deal with that Pokemon because of her younger sister.

This time as she was on the stage, she threw her Pokeball with more confidence. "Help me out, Paws!" The Meowth meowed after he appeared.

"You're turn, Tepig!" said Lisa, Shelly's opponent. The Tepig snorted as she faced off against her opponent. "Start off with Ember!"

"Dodge and use Scratch!"

Paws jumped from side to side as fire balls were hurled at him. Then he reached the Tepig and swiped at her from the side.

Shelly smiled. "Good. Now Bite."

"Tackle!"

Paws leapt at the Tepig, but the fire type rammed into her first. The Meowth growled before chomping onto her leg. Tepig cried out as she started to run.

"Calm down!" Lisa cried. "Try an Ember attack!"

Tepig skidded to a halt. Then she turned her head and fired at the Meowth. Paws was struck in the face by fire, cried out, and let go.

"Good. Now Tackle."

"Fake Out!" Shelly exclaimed.

Tepig ran at the normal type Pokemon, but the Meowth was too fast for him. Paws was suddenly upon him and attacked confidently. Tepig tripped and fell on his side.

Lisa gritted her teeth. "Ember!"

"Jump up and Bite!"

While fire balls were spat at him once again, Paws jumped into the air. He did a flip before falling onto the Tepig, biting into her flank. This time, Tepig could not turn her head far enough to aim her fire at him.

"Shake him off!" Lisa exclaimed.

"Scratch," Shelly said with a smirk.

While Tepig ran around like crazy, Paws jumped to the side before scratching the fire type with his claws. Tepig fell to the ground and did not get back up.

"Tepig is unable to battle," said Astoria. "Lisa has lost all of her points. Paws is the winner, and victory goes to Shelly!"

Paws ran back to his trainer, smiling brightly. Shelly grinned back at him. "You were awesome," she said. She returned him to his Pokeball to give him a break. Then she made her way to the back of the stage to watch Drew's battle.

As expected, Drew won against his opponent. Then there was only one matchup left. Shelly held her breath as she made her way to the stage for the third time that night. She was up against Drew, and she knew it was going to be difficult to beat him. As long as she believed in herself and her Pokemon, however, she knew she couldn't go wrong.

"Good luck," she said, giving the boy a small smile.

Drew nodded. "Same to you. Go, Absol!"

"Paws, you're up!"

Shelly's friends watched from the audience. Gary had a serious expression on his face as he observed the two coordinators. "How do you think she will fare against Drew?" he asked. He sat next to Dani with Gabri on her other side.

"He'll be a tough opponent," Dani said. "I've battled his Absol, and he's strong. I don't know if Paws is ready for this."

"But contest battles are about more than strength," said Gabri. "She still has a chance."

Dani nodded. "This will be interesting." Though Drew was her friend, she was still rooting for her sister. She watched as Astoria signaled the beginning of the battle.

"Paws, use Bite!" Shelly cried.

"Absol, dodge that and use Iron Tail," said Drew.

"Don't give up!"

Paws raced forward on all fours. When he got close to the Absol, he leapt at him. Absol dashed to the side before turning and striking with his tail. Paws cried out, but he was soon back on his feet. He chomped down on Absol's tail and did not let go.

"Water Pulse," Drew said without blinking.

"Scratch!"

Absol turned his head, forming a blue ball in his mouth. He then shot the ball at the Meowth, sending him flying back. Paws appeared badly injured after this attack. He struggled to his feet, panting heavily. He then leapt at the Absol too quickly for him to react. His claws grew long, and he struck repeatedly.

Shelly's eyes widened in surprise. "That's Fury Swipes! Keep it up!"

"Flash," Drew said.

Paws repeatedly slashed at Absol. The dark type turned his head to attack, but Paws leapt into the air to avoid it. He then crashed down on him and continued to strike with his claws.

"Get him off with another Water Pulse," Drew said.

"Bite!" said Shelly.

Absol turned his head, but Paws was too quick again. The normal type ducked onto the ground, missing the attack. He then bit the Absol's belly.

Drew gritted his teeth. "Water Pulse."

"Fury Swipes!"

Paws let go of Absol and leapt into the air before he could strike. He then fell down on him and struck with his claws.

"Again!" Drew tried.

The Meowth's luck finally ran out. Just as he tried to run, the water hit him and sent him flying across the field. He tried to get up, but he fell back to the ground, fainted.

"Paws is unable to battle," said Astoria. "Absol is the winner, and victory goes to Drew! He is the winner of the Castelia City ribbon!"

The crowd applauded while Shelly smiled sadly. "Thanks for trying, Paws," she said. She took out his Pokeball and returned him. Well, she had tried. It had been a good battle nonetheless. "Congratulations," she said to Drew across the stage.

Drew nodded at her. "Thanks."

Shelly walked off the stage just in time to see Gary and her sisters make their way over to them. She tried to smile but failed. She had been so hoping to win her second ribbon, but she had failed.

"I'm sorry you lost," Gary said. "You put up a good fight."

"Yeah, you'll get him next time," Dani said.

Gabri nodded. "Right."

"Quil!" said Mo.

"Tepig!" went Dragon.

Shelly gave them all a small smile as she hopped off the stage. "Thanks." She took her egg from Gary.

The four of them turned and watched Drew accept the ribbon. He did not stay around long after the applause. Shelly did not feel much like talking to him anymore, but Dani jogged after him as he made his way to the exit. "Drew!" she called.

Drew stopped and turned around to face her. "Oh, hi, Dani. Sorry I had to demolish your sister." He smirked.

"That's fine," Dani said dismissively, for this was not what was on her mind at the moment. "I was just wondering what your plans are now."

"I'm going to go out into the forest and train with my Pokemon before my next contest," Drew replied.

"Oh. I'm challenging the Castelia City gym leader tomorrow. Would you like to stick around to watch?"

Drew blinked. "Why would I want to do that?"

Dani tried not to let his blunt question bother her. She knew he only engaged in activities he found beneficial to himself. "Well, when's the last time you've seen a gym battle?"

He shrugged, his hands in his pockets. "It's been awhile."

"It's not a contest battle, but you can learn from many different experiences, right? I'm sure it would help you somehow. Besides, Luke would love to see you again." She smiled weakly.

"Cynda!" Mo said in agreement from her shoulder.

Drew seemed to think about this for a minute. Then he nodded, a smalls mile on his lips. "Alright. I'll watch your battle. As long as Shelly doesn't have a problem with it."

She turned to see Gary and my sisters approaching. From their faces, she could tell they had heard Drew's words. "Do you?" She could not read Shelly's expression.

"Fine with me," Shelly said. "I'm not bitter." She paused and looked at the green-haired boy. "And I'm beating you next time."

Drew smirked. "We'll see about that." He turned to Dani. "I expect you to beat that bug gym leader with your fire Pokemon."

Dani nodded. "You can count on that."

Drew smiled slightly. "Good. I'll see you tomorrow." He was off with a wave of his hand.

Dani glanced at Gary when he put a hand on her shoulder. "You'll beat him for sure," he said confidently.

Dani smiled, glad for the support. "Yeah, I think I will."