Chapter IX
It was after lunch when we arrived to Crestfallen town, a pretty silver streaked town with multiple house's, and the contest hall could be seen in the distance with a Pokemon Centre directly to the left.
"Welcome to Crestfallen town, the town of the moon." Bryce read on the welcome sign, and Nathan bounced in excitement like a little kid.
"My first contest!" He cried, and I snorted in amusement.
"And you tease me for being a little kid!" I laughed, punching the boy lightly on the shoulder.
Nathan seemed to remember that he had a "cool attitude" to keep up, and the brown haired boy crossed his arms and flicked hair out of his eyes. "You are a little kid Scar."
I growled at the nickname and Bryce and Growlithe sighed. I guess they could already tell a fight was blooming.
Just as I was about to explode on Nathan, he cut me off by holding out a hand. "I don't need to hear it Scar, I already know I am going to wipe the contest floor clean."
I recoiled in shock my mouth dropping open.
"I mean, it's perfectly okay to be jealous, I know how hard it will be once I become top coordinator and you still only have that one gym badge Scar." Nathan went on, and I slowly got angrier. "I mean just look at me! I'm to handsome to be real! Plus my coordinating skills are on POINT!"
My face went a furious red and I snapped. "You arrogant, self centred, wanna-be, CONTEST BOY!" I screeched, and Growlithe stumbled off my shoulder with an irritated huff as I lunged at him, sending us toppling onto the ground. It was the first time any of our arguments had gotten completely physical, and I think Bryce was too taken aback to actually pull us apart, so I just kept throwing punches, while Nathan screamed in both terror and pain.
After a moment or two, Bryce snapped out of it and tried to pull us apart, but I just held up a hand to stop him. We were lying directly on the floor, and I was positioned above him with my fist entangled in his shirt collar and the other raised above my head dangerously. Nathans eyes were wide with fear, but otherwise was unharmed by my assault.
I leaned in for effect, my eyes flashing in anger.
"Shut up." I whispered, and Nathan nodded mutely.
Getting up off the terrified brown haired boy, I smirked and turned to Bryce and Growlithe, who's mouths were open wide in shock. Raising an eyebrow, I crossed my arms and huffed.
"What are you guys looking at." I questioned almost menacingly.
"They thought you two were about to make-out." A voice from behind me answered and I spun around to the voice, my face completely red.
Standing there was a girl with wavy brown hair tied to an intricate side-braid with two long bangs framing her face, standing with her arms crossed, and an unamused look in her dark green eyes. She had a tanned complexion and an athletic body, and was wearing a white blouse covered with a long, light, indigo jacket containing many pockets, and black floral jeans and white sneakers. She had a brown satchel over her shoulder which had six pokeballs hanging from a key chain.
"I-we...that's completely ridiculous!" I exclaimed, my blush not fading. Growlithe and Bryce snickered and the girl smiled and extended her hand to help Nathan up, who gladly took it. Once he was on his feet, he smiled brightly at the girl and extended his hand again.
"I'm Nathan, the girl in question is Scarlet, and that's Bryce and Growlithe." He beamed, but I huffed and glared at this girl. Who does she think she is talking to me that way! Total snob if you ask me.
The girl nodded, shaking his hand, her expression still unamused. "Rhianne. I suppose you guys are participating in the contest?"
Nathan nodded. "I am, not Scar or Bryce though. Scar is a trainer and Bryce is a breeder."
"We can speak for ourselves, thanks Nathan." I snarled, and Nathan and Bryce recoiled slightly in shock. Growlithe however, was watching the whole conversation with interested eyes, and jumped onto my shoulder and nuzzling my head to calm me down.
Rhianne just ignored me and turned back to Nathan. "Well good luck I guess. It's a Super Contest here, so you need some formal wear and ball capsules and seals, so you better get to the entrance foyer as quick as you can."
Nathan nodded. "Thanks Rhianne. Good-luck today."
Rhianne snorted. "I don't need luck. You're going to be demolished. If this is you're first contest, good luck beating me."
Nathan raised an eyebrow, while I seethed at this girls confidence. Who died and made her Champion?
"We'll see Rhianne. Catch you later."
The three of us walked away, and as I followed Nathan down Crestfallen town's streets, Rhianne shot me a cocky smile, and I glared daggers in response.
When she was out of ear shot, Bryce whistled. "Well that was awkward. Scarlet did you really have to lose you're cool like that? We just met the girl."
I seethed and balled my fists. "She was so arrogant! Almost worse than Nathan!"
"Hey!" Nathan whined. "Don't take this out on me, I though she was pretty cool! Besides I need to get a suit now! I had no idea there were Super Contests in Kanto."
I wanted to snap at Nathan, but Growlithe barked sharply at me so I just sighed.
Approaching the Contest Hall, Nathan strode into the building confidently. Walking up to the registration centre, he smiled as he saw a Nurse Joy beam at him.
"Hello! Here to register for Crestfallen Town's Contest?"
Bryce gasped and thrust Nathan aside at the sight of the Nurse. "Why hello! May I just say you are truly stunning today! You know, if this is the town of the moon you stand out completely, radiating the heat of the sun!"
Nurse Joy looked flustered. "Oh well... that's nice-"
"Bryce! Leave her alone!" I snapped, grabbing the flirtatious boy by the ear and dragging him backwards. Bryce clearly inherited Brock's love of pretty girls.
"Anyway..." Nathan began, turning back to the Nurse. "I would like to register, but this is my first contest."
The Nurse beamed and nodded. "No problem! Just hand me you're pokedex and I'll have you set up in no time at all!"
Nathan smiled and handed her his red pokedex, and the Nurse scanned it and handed it back to him, along with a coordinator ID and ball capsules and seals.
"Since this is a Super Contest, we recommend you use these. It is also a formal attire contest, so I hope you have that planned out. Otherwise you are ready to go! You're appeal will be ninth, so be ready!"
Nathan beamed, and I smiled at how excited he looked. "Thanks Nurse Joy!"
Once the four of us walked away from the desk and to the videophones, I began to see just how nervous Nathan was. He was constantly tapping his fingers against his knee, and would jump whenever someone spoke to him, as though he was deep in thought.
"I guess I have to call my parents and ask for a suit or something." Nathan sighed, before sitting in the chair in front of the videophone and dialling his house number.
After a few rings, the happy face of May could be seen from the other end.
"Nathan! What a nice surprise! How have you been dear?"
Nathan smiled at the sight of his mother and sighed. "I'm great Mom, I'm at Crestfallen town for my first contest! It's actually in a few hours but I have a slight problem."
May laughed. "Don't worry dear, I already have you're suit sent to you. It should be you're size, but if it isn't just call me. You're father and I have the contest channel already pulled up on the TV, we are so excited! Are you nervous?"
Nathan glanced at me and crossed his arms, clearly shaking away his nerves. "Of course not, Mudkip and I have this in the bag."
"Oh please!" I laughed from beside him, and leaned in so I could see May. "He's more scared than a Rattata running from a Swellow."
May laughed and Nathan turned a bright red, shoving me lightly. "Can it Scarlet."
"She has a point though Nathan." Bryce snickered. "I've never seen you so scared!" He looked up at the camera and beamed. "Hello Mrs. Hayden."
May smiled. "Hello Scarlet, Bryce. How have you two been?"
I beamed, "Just great! Growlithe and I got the Pewter Badge didn't we buddy!"
"Growl! Lithe!" The puppy grinned toothily.
"Wonderful!" May beamed. "You're parents are so proud Scarlet! Misty wouldn't stop talking about you the other night on the phone!"
I grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of my neck. "Thanks!"
"Nathan don't worry, jeez you look like you're going to be sick!" May scolded. "You're going to do awesome, Drew and I just know it!"
"Did I hear my name?" The deep voice of Drew could be heard from behind the camera, and soon the buff green haired man entered the cameras view. "Ah hello son! Ready for the contest? I just know you're going to do great!"
Nathan immediately straightened at the sight of his father. "Yes Dad! I'm going to crush everyone!" He grinned crookedly, his smug look returning, and I smacked my forehead dramatically.
"Well where was that confidence two minutes ago? I snapped at him, and everyone laughed except Nathan who glared at me.
"You two are too cute!" May snickered, and I flushed a deep red and Nathan cried out in embarrassment. "MOM!"
/-/-/-/-/-/-/
"So the punks are entering a contest huh? What makes HIM so special! I'll show him just how good my adorable little Houndour can be!" Jackie snapped, throwing her binoculars into Jace's lap. "I will enter this contest, and WIN too!
Jace looked at his twin uncertainly. "Are you sure about this Jac?" He asked nervously. "Most of these trainers have an appeal prepared beforehand! You're just a beginner!"
Zorua nodded. "Agreed. There is a high possibility you will screw this up! Besides, you can't just barge in there as Jackie from Team Rocket! Someone is bound to know!"
Jackie snarled in rage and slapped both counterparts upside the head. "You're idiots! I don't need an appeal ready, Houndour and I will take the stage! Besides, I already am the master of disguise!"
Jackie pulled a gold butterfly mask out of her bag and pulled her hair into a ponytail. "And I wont be Jackie, I am now known as Jacqueline! The next top coordinator!"
/-/-/-/-/-/-/
"Scarlet, come on, he's worried! Don't rush him!" Bryce laughed as I paced the hallway.
"He's going to be late for the contest if he doesn't hurry! I groaned from outside the change room. Nathan had been inside for the last ten minutes, putting on the outfit May had sent him. I was about to barge into the change room to pull him outside when the door opened and Nathan appeared, looking anxious.
"Well?" He asked nervously and Bryce and I beamed.
"You look great!" Bryce beamed, and I nodded grudgingly while Growlithe barked in approval.
"I have to admit, you clean up nicely Nathan" I smiled warmly, and the brown haired boy flushed a light pink.
Nathan had changed out of his jeans and jacket, and into a white long sleeved collared shirt with a silk scarlet vest over top, and a scarlet red tie. He wore a black suit jacket over top, and a pair of black slacks and black dress shoes. The bandanna on his head had also been replaced with a black fedora with a scarlet ribbon wrapped around it and a red rose holding the ribbon in place. His hair was not as windswept as it usually was, instead it was straight and flat, the twin hairs still visible to flick however.
"I'm glad my mom threw in the scarlet attire. I still feel like me." He beamed.
I tapped my chin thoughtfully, before shaking my head at him. "We are still missing something though." I spoke loudly, and Nathans eyes widened.
"Really? I though I got everything!" He stressed, looking frantic, I grinned and snatched his fedora, in one hand, before reaching over to ruffle his brown hair with the other. Once the hair returned to its windswept look, I nodded and placed his fedora back on.
"There. Perfect." I beamed.
Nathan, Bryce and Growlithe let out little chortles of amusement, and then an announcement over the loud speaker called the laugh to a halt.
"Will all contestants please head over to the contest hall? Crestfallen Town's contest is about to begin."
Nathan paled immediately, and I turned to him concerned. "Hey don't stress. You're going to do great." Growlithe nodded, barking in encouragement.
He nodded at me and smiled. "Thanks Scarlet"
Bryce clapped Nathan on the shoulder. "We're going to head over to the stands okay? You're going to do awesome."
Giving Nathan one last smile, we headed through the doors that lead towards the stands, preparing to cheer for our nervous friend.
Things are getting heated! If you noticed, this chapter came up the SAME DAY as my other one, so maybe consider a review for another quick chapter?
Next Chapter:
Nathans appeal round! Going up against Rhianne and Jacqueline, will he pull out win a ribbon? Stay turned to find out!