A/N: Even though this story mainly revolves around the video game, I've decided to add a few Anime elements to it. Such as attack combos in contests. Trust me on this, from past experience when I introduce combos into stories, that's where I shine, in battles and/or contests. But anyways, I don't like the video game contests so I didn't even consider it for the story. The way I see it, if it was in real life, you walk out from a line of trainers and pokemon, pick a judge to show off to, tell it to do an attack, then get back in line and wait your turn again. Ho-hum right?
Ch. 14: Pokemon Contests?
"So what happened back there?"
Bryce asked, hands folded in his lap as they waited for their pokemon. Stormie looked particularly worried, both trainer's pokemon were being taken care of by Nurse Joy but Haunter had to be taken into the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). Swallowing a barrage of sharp leaves launched by a pokemon that had the power to evolve twice in one day would injure anyone. Stormie bit her lip and looked towards the door with a neon sign over it that read, "In Session"
"Well, that was sort of a gimmick I was working out for the Floaroma Contest."
Bryce stared at her for a moment, he wondered if he'd sound ignorant if he asked but he decided to bite.
"What is-?" Stormie laughed and wagged her finger in his direction.
"I don't think so Bryce, for all I know, you could be a rival."
"Yeah but-"
'Chansey!'
The round pink pokemon waddled to the two trainers. She sported a white nurse's cap on her head and a pouch that contained an egg. She pointed at the video phone where Dawn's face peered at him through the screen. He nodded and stood up and walked towards the screen and took the phone off the hook. She beamed at him before a pokemon with a trident for a beak poked its head over her shoulder, a faded orange ribbon was in its beak.
"Hey Bryski!" She said, doing all but bouncing on her feet. He groaned when he heard his nickname but she continued to speak before he could voice his displeasure. "I was sooooo excited when I heard you made it to Floaroma for the contest!" Empoleon smiled as well, muttering a muffled cry with the ribbon in its mouth. She looked startled at it before a look of recognition appeared on her face.
"Thank you Empoleon." She said with a curtsy in his direction, taking the ribbon from his mouth. Looking pleased, the penguin waddled off screen. She held it up in his direction.
"This is the first ribbon I've ever won," She explained. "I'm going to send it over to you with hopes that you succeed." She moved the ribbon out of sight and the teleporter next to the phone started to flash. A bolt of electricity shot through the beam and onto the transport plate and the ribbon that was once over the phone with his mom, was now with him. He picked it up before shouting out and dropping it on the ground.
"Be careful dear, it's hot!" She said as he put a burnt thumb in his mouth. After sucking on it tenderly for a moment and picking up the ribbon, he placed it inside his jacket.
"But mom, I don't even-"
There was a sudden movement in the periphery of his vision before Stormie was right next to him, cheeks touching so they were both in Dawn's vision. Her eyes were sparkling and her hands were clasped together. Realizing how close they were suddenly made Bryce interested in the Center's lights as a light tint of red flashed across his cheeks.
"Your mom is Dawn Wright?" She asked in awe, speaking more to Dawn then anyone. A little embarrassed, she grinned while rubbing the back of her neck. Stormie immediately pulled a handbook out from nowhere, she flipped through it rapidly and when she found the page she was looking for, held it up to the elder coordinator.
"You won three Grand Festivals in a row, and that was only in Sinnoh!" Dawn laughed over the other end of the phone, waving her hand modestly in her direction.
"Please stop, you're embarrassing me!" She said with a tone that indicated she really didn't want her to stop. Afterwards, she put her hand to the side of her face as though she was aiming her voice to Bryce and with a wink she said,
"I like your girlfriend."
Bryce felt all the blood rush into his face and looked at Stormie. But as star struck as she was, she either didn't hear the comment or chose to ignore it. Looking towards the ground and fidgeting his thumbs a little, he started to mutter,
"But she's not-"
She suddenly returned the book to where ever it came from and grabbed both of his hands, eyes still twinkling, this time with competitiveness, she looked him dead in the eye and grinned.
"So I guess we are rivals, well good luck in the contest. I'll see you there."
She let go of his hands and flashed him a thumbs-up before Nurse Joy approached both of them. Psy was in her arms struggling a little while the poor woman tried to keep him still and Haunter was behind both of them pointing at her and laughing.
"Well," She said a little frustrated while still trying to hold on to the Psychic pokemon. "Your pokemon have made a full recovery! But these two don't want to stay in their pokeballs!"
Stormie giggled before holding out her arms, Psy noticed the motion and disappeared in a blue flash into his trainer's arms. With a deep sigh, he went to sleep while Haunter floated through the nurse to reunite with his trainer. Joy shivered before looking at the ghost with extreme distaste, holding out one pokeball in one hand and two in the other. Bryce took the two and Stormie the other. With a forced smile, Joy turned around and disappeared down the hallway. Stormie nodded and pointed at Bryce.
"I'll see you tomorrow, just don't think you're going to win!" She teased before went out the door. Bryce turned around to his mom.
"But mom, what are-?"
A sudden clattering off screen attracted both of their attention and Dawn wide-eyed turned back to her son."I should go too Bryce, I have to feed Lumiere, and the others." She said with a shrug and a wary smile. "I'll watch your performance tomorrow!" She waved and ran off screen, the absence of anyone on the other end made it automatically shut off.
"But what are Pokemon Contests?"