May shifted uneasily in her seat on the bench. She knew that her turn was coming up quickly and the butterflies in her stomach were beginning to feel like rabid raccoons that were tearing through a garbage can. With this uneasiness settling, she began to wonder if this had anything to do what the fact that she had pigged out last night on rice with extra chili pepper flavoring.

"Ugh. That was probably it." May moaned to herself, making a disgusted face as her stomach lurched. Pulling her knees to her chest, she prayed that it would only last until she got out on stage, which was within the next act or two.

"May?" a voice was heard from her right side. The voice was the warm tenor voice that she loved most. On her right, Drew watched the brunet with a concerned look in his sharp green eyes. May's face grew pale momentarily before she flushed.

"I'm okay. Just feeling the butterflies." She reassured her surprisingly concerned companion. Normally, Drew might have sneered and introduced a witty come back as a way of pushing her to do her best, but instead he frowned and settled down on the bench beside her.

"You look really pale." Drew commented, "Hold still." The back of Drew's soft warm hand pressed gently against the blue-eyed girl's forehead. He pulled back quickly, his eyes widening. "You're burning up! You came to win a contest while in that condition?" The concerned boy ranted to his sickly friend. May buried her face in her hands, taking in three deep breaths before straightening up.

"I'm all right. I came here to win, Drew, and I won't let a little fever prevent me from rubbing my soon-to-be-ribbon in your face," May chirped, springing to her feet and striking one of her triumphant poses.

Drew eyed her carefully. "Your cheeks are bright red. I'm not convinced."

May's shoulders sagged slightly as she relaxed her stance. "It probably looks like a messy make-up job. You of all people she know that girls wear make-up, with all your fan girls and what not watching and squealing over your every move." She pressed, coming off harsher than she had intended. Drew raised a brow and brushed off the comment.

"And our next coordinator, coming from Littleroot…" was heard from on-stage.

"That's my cue," May muttered half to herself before turning to leave. Yet, Drew caught her wrist before she could leave. His green eyes burned with intensity and concern as her met her gaze. "Don't push yourself until you fall." He murmured, slowly letting go of her hand and letting her leave

"Please everyone, let us give a warm welcome to a fiery competitor in red, May!" Vivian, the MC of the Hoenn region cried, throwing her arms up in the air and smiling as roars from the audience rolled from all sides of the room, washing shaky May in thunderous applause.

'Take a deep breath and go for it' May remind herself, straightening her posture slightly and imitating her usual energy. The youth breathed in and attempted one of her spins, slightly falling out towards the end before tossing her pokeball and crying "Skitty, Take the stage!"

The tiny cat-like pokemon mewled in delight as it gazed momentarily at the audience before glancing back and May and anticipating her instructions. May glanced at Skitty and nodded before calling its attack. "Skitty, use swift," the co-coordinator instructed, watching as tiny stars shot forward from the Pokemon's mouth. Timing it perfectly, May then called for blizzard and then confusion, causing the stars to freeze over before they exploded as tiny fireworks that rained upon the stage.

May gazed at the judges, hopeful that they would take favor to her routine versus others. The judges began making their remarks.
"Quite a clever display of Skitty's strength and beauty," comment Judge Contesta.
"Remarkable, as usual," nodded Sukizo
"I was absolutely amazed. One would never guess that such a cute pokemon could exhibit such strength," Nurse Joy gushed.

May listened to the judge's comments, feeling slightly light-headed as she shifted her weight from side to side, listening for her score.
27.8. She was satisfied and could go sit down and hopefully wait off the dizzy feeling.

"Thank you, May. Now, Our next contestant is.." Vivian's voice trailed off in the arena as May shuffled back to the competitor's wait area. She reminded herself that she'd have to pay attention during Drew's appeal and also watch Harley's moves like and eagle, when the two were her most likely competitors later on.

May had almost made it back to the waiting area before she was seized in an embrace from behind. For a moment, the blue-eyed coordinator considered this seizing as and ambush and began to struggle. "Let me go!"
"My little ginger bread cookie, you seem off today," the haunting voice of her 'attacker' commented. Harley.

Remembering his previous offer, May blushed with her already red cheeks. Harley cackled, noting her flustered expression and released her from his hold.
"I see you're happy to see me, May~," Harley grinned ", but it's too bad that you're ill. I was hoping for you to be a little showier than that. You know the second round only has room for the best of the best."

"I'm aware of that. And being ill won't affect my ability to direct. I-"

"No, it may not affect you too greatly, but your pokemon are going to have a rough time when they're just of out-of-it as you are," noted the voice of May's suddenly appearing rival, Drew.

"Drew, I-" May began, but Drew held up his hand in a signal of silence.
"For once, I agree with Harley. You are in no condition to perform. You need to go. Now." Drew's voice was firm, the slightest hint of anger.

'Why.. Why am I not good enough when I'm ready?' Tears welled at May's eyes. She bit them back, shaking her head and taking a shaky breath.
"No."

"What!?" scuffed Drew, further angered and surprised. Harley chuckled and patted Drew lightly on the shoulder. "Why deny the girl the right to perform when she wants to?" He grinned, hiding a devious grin. Drew's shoulders stiffened.

"Listen here. My rival is someone who can put out their best all the time. You're not able to. Go back to the hotel and rest." Drew nearly snapped.
An angered expression crossed May's face. "No! No! I will pass the preliminaries, fight the competition and win in the finals, and no one is going to stop me!" she screamed, storming off towards the waiting area.

"Your little girlfriend sure has it coming to her," Harley sneered, inwardly doing a dance of joy and victory. Drew glared back at him. "Try anything dirty and you won't see the next contest," Drew snapped, following suit after the brunet female who had left angered a moment ago.

' May, you're so stupid. Can't you see I'm trying this for your own good?' Drew thought bitterly to himself before entering the room.