"The fresh country air is buzzing with giddy excitement in what is usually a quiet suburban town, which can only mean one thing. Welcome, people and pokémon, to the Wedgehurst Pokémon Contest!"

From where I was sitting, I could hear the audience's applause coming from the screen as the presenter welcomed everyone to the contest. They sounded really excited, but I wasn't able to get a good look at the broadcast as, in front of me, Austin was giving me a pep talk.

"All right, we trained all day yesterday, so I know we're all going to do great," he told us, practically radiating confidence. "Maya's going to be watching from the audience, so make sure you do your best for her. She worked really hard helping us, so it's only fair we return the favour and give her a great performance."

I nod, trying to ignore the looks some of the other contestants were giving us as Austin chattered away. It was bad enough that everyone except me was wearing fancier clothes, making me feel underdressed, but Austin's loud personality wasn't helping calm my nerves.

There was another loud cheer from the screen, and I was glad when Austin's attention was drawn to it.

"Unfortunately, he appears to have gotten lost on the way here, so he will be unable to join our judges today."

The audience started making sounds of displeasure at this news, and some of the contestants around me seemed to deflate at the news.

"Why's everyone so upset?" I ask.

"They just found out the champion isn't going to be a guest judge today," a voice behind me piped up. From beside me Alix strode into view. "His hometown is the next town over, so they thought it would be a good idea to get him to help judge this contest. Try to get people excited for the next circuit."

Huh. I guess that makes sense. Although the getting lost part sounds odd. If they weren't able to make it, wouldn't it have made more sense to just say that they were busy and had to cancel? Why say that he got lost?

"Is that what you're wearing?"

I blink, looking up at Alix.

"Yeah… why? Was there a dress code?" I ask.

"No. Just most trainers like to dress up for contests," she explained, gesturing to her midi dress.

"That's ok," Austin interjected, dropping onto the seat next to me and throwing an arm around my shoulder. "Sam here doesn't need to dress up to show off his pokémon."

Alix looks at me for a moment, and I can't help but feel like she's sizing me up.

"Well," she starts turning to leave, "I look forward to seeing you in the second round."

I sigh as she leaves me and Austin. It was enough that I was trying to keep calm with the situation before, but now I was having to deal with others' expectations. I wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to get through the first round, let alone get to battle Alix if I made it through.

Fortunately, the performances started not long after our conversation with Alix, meaning I could just listen to Austin as he talked about some of the performances we saw on the screen.

It was surprising, watching some of the performances. Some looked basic, like a Mr Mime juggling with their psychic powers or a Pink Rapidash galloping around the stage, leaping over hurdles. These performances made me feel a bit better for what I had planned, as the audience and judges seemed to be impressed despite the simplicity.

But other performances were more impressive. The guy who Austin had made the declaration against, whose name was Frederick, did an impressive performance with his Chandalure, creating a pillar of fire with Fire Spin before peppering it with Will-O-Wisp so the blue flames rose into the air on the stream of orange fire. Alix's performance was even more impressive, using a pokémon called Tinkaton who filled the stage with Stealth Rocks before slamming the floor with their massive hammer. Not only did the impact make the air in the arena shake, but the hidden stones exploded in a display of bright lights that glittered throughout the arena.

I couldn't help but feel like my performance was going to be underwhelming in comparison.

"Sam, you're up next," one of the assistants called out. "Please make your way to the stage entrance. That's Sam to the stage entrance."

I stood up, my legs shaking slightly. As I stand, Austin got up as well.

"Relax. You're going to do great. Trust in your pokémon," he tells me, looking oddly serious. I nod at him and make my way to the door to the assistant and begin following them to the stage.

"When your name is called, make your way onto the stage," the assistant tells me as we walk. "You'll have up to one minute for your performance, after which the judges will comment on it. Once the judges have given their comments, exit the stage and return to the dressing room."

I nod, taking Aria's pokéball off my belt and expanding it, getting ready to head out. We had arrived at an area behind the stage, and I was quickly guided onto a walkway that was cut off by a curtain, presumably leading out onto the stage. From here, I could hear the crowd's cheers reverberating through the air, and my heart started pounding harder. I wasn't sure if the anticipation I was feeling was from being in front of an audience or the fact this was my first pokémon competition, but I was shaking slightly.

"And up next, a newbie to the contest scene, give it up for Sam!"

I blink.

One moment I had been standing in a slightly dim backstage area, the next a curtain had been pulled aside, revealing me to the arena and the spectators within it. Taking a deep breath, I take a few steps forward onto the stage, quickly taking in the audience's polite applause before throwing the pokéball into the air.

"Aria, come on out."

Aria bursts out of the ball in a flash of light, quickly swooping down so she could speed across the stage. As practised, the moment she approached the judges she sharply ascended in front of them, causing all three judges to look up slightly startled.

"Wow, just look at that speed! Sam's Pidgey is showing incredible aerial control as she darts around the stage!"

I can't help but smile at the excited murmuring that comment gets from the crowd, their eyes fixed on Aria's small form as she reaches the apex of her assent and begins to circle in the air.

"Double Team!" I call out to her. Aria's form blurred slightly, and suddenly she was surrounded by copies of herself, more appearing with each second until it looked like an entire flock of Pidgey had somehow managed to get inside the arena, the cloudlike shape swirling and pulsing in the air.

"Incredible! What was once an aerial display by a single Pidgey has now turned into an amazing acrobatic display from an entire flock of her copies!"

I let Aria continue the display for a few moments longer, letting her captivate the audience a little bit longer with her murmuration before calling out to her.

"Whirlwind!"

From the centre of the flock, strong winds began to pick up, strong enough for me and the audience to feel it from our position below it. The illusory Pidgey started disappearing, dissolving into particles of light as the winds Aria was producing from her position in the centre tore them apart. As the copies dissolved, the winds Aria had created carried the specks of light throughout the stadium, looking like stars as they were propelled through the air before fading from existence. Now on her own, I hold up my hand to signal the end of the performance and Aria dives towards me, landing on my open palm.

"What a wonderful performance!" the commentator announced as the audience started applauding. "But what did the judges think of it?"

"A simple yet elegant display. You were able to compensate for your pokemons small form by turning a solo performance into a murmuration that made use of the space available. A great display of your pokemons talents," the first judge's voice reverberated through the arena before he paused, a smile appearing on his face. "Not bad for a beginners performance."

"Yes! Remarkable!" the man next to him piped up. I wondered if he was going to elaborate but Nurse Joy, who had been seated next to him, had already begun talking.

"It was very pretty. Reminded me of the migrations I used to watch as a child. It made me feel like a kid again."

As the audience begins applauding, the pride I feel for Aria makes me break out into a grin. I can't help but give the judges and presenter a small bow before quickly leaving the stage, a spring in my step.

"You were so cool!"

I can't help but grin at Austin. Ever since I'd gotten back to the waiting room, adrenaline had been coursing through my body. What Aria and I did was amazing, and the feedback had been a lot better then I had been anticipating.

"Well, we were working on it yesterday," Maya said beside me. She had come to see us when the final performance had finished, wanting to wait with us as we waited for the judges to make the decision of who was making it to the next round. "Aria made a lot more copies than she did yesterday. Seems like the training really paid off."

"It was a good performance," Alix agreed, standing just off to our side. "It wasn't overly complicated, but managed to keep the audience's attention. And considering how small Pidgey are, you managed to find a way to increase their presence on the stage."

That was a really nice thing for Alix to say, and I can't help but feel the swell of pride build in my chest at her words.

"Thanks, but I have to give credit to Austin's Onix."

Alix looked at me with confusion, so I explained. "If his Onix hadn't been frightened of it, I wouldn't have noticed a passing flock of birds yesterday. I wouldn't have had that idea."

For a moment Alex just stared at me, before bursting into laughter. Beside me, Maya is doing her best to hold in her own laughter, but judging by the way her shoulders were shaking, I'd say that it was a losing battle.

"So what you're saying…" Austin declared proudly, "is that after all of the training we did yesterday, we were a great inspiration for your performance!"

Maya lost it at that, descending into a fit of giggles at her brother's antics. I also started giggling at him, at the way he was making various poses as if he had intentionally inspired my performance, and was trying to re-inspire everyone who was watching.

"Can you keep it down? I know you lot are uncivilised but this is a bit much, don't you think?"

The jovial atmosphere was immediately gone as Frederick strode into our midst, shouldering Alix out of his way as if she didn't even matter. Although considering the haughty look on his face, she probably didn't to him.

"A few cheers and you think you're worth something. It's almost amusing how pathetic you are."

Alix tensed at those words, and I felt anger begin to flow through me. I opened my mouth to chastise him, but Maya beat me to it.

"Really? Because if that was true, you wouldn't need to say anything."

Frederick's smirk fell. "Who asked you?"

"The same person who asked for your opinion," Maya retorted. "So why don't you do everyone a favour and piss off before I inform security that you're harassing contestants."

I was surprised. Maya usually was the more collected one of the two siblings. Yet at this moment she sounded cold, harsh. Frederick was also stunned by her for a moment, before a scowl formed on his face.

"Maybe you and your friends should drop out before they embarrass the region with their sub-par abilities. Let people with actual talent entertain the masses."

"No way!" Austin yelled, jumping to his feet. "You're just scared that we'll embarrass you in the next round."

"Besides," Alix spoke up. "If we're talking talent, I've been competing longer than you have, and have won more Ribbons than you."

Frederik was getting more and more annoyed with us with each declaration, as if he was offended at the very idea that we would speak against him.

"And the results are in!"

The atmosphere in the waiting room suddenly shifted at the announcer's voice, our attention immediately switching from each other to the screens on the walls.

"And here are the eight lucky trainers moving onto the next round!"

One by one, images started appearing on the screen. Alix's image was revealed second on the screen, getting a tut from Frederik as Maya congratulated her. I would be lying if I said I wasn't annoyed when he was revealed to be the second to last trainer to make it through, but I didn't have time to dwell on it as my face appeared on the screen next to him.

"You did it!"

Austin had pulled me into a hug, spinning me slightly in excitement as he celebrated my progression.

"Austin… you're crushing me…"

He let go of me, placing his hands on my shoulder with a massive grin on his face.

"Ok, next stop, you're going to win this contest. No offence Alix."

"No worries," she tells us with a grin. "I look forward to battling him."

"As if that's going to happen," Frederick scoffs. We turn to him, only to find him grinning at the screen. "It's not like somebody like you would be able to beat Lady Ortega."

"What?" Alix asked, confusion in her voice as she turned to look at the screen. I followed her gaze to see that the announcer had just announced the matchups. Alix was against Frederick in the second match, whereas I was in the third match against an old, grandmotherly looking woman.

"You should have taken my advice," Frederick spoke up as he began to leave. "A novice like you against her. It's going to be hilarious."

He strutted off, leaving the four of us alone again.

"Who's Lady Ortega?" I asked. Alix turned to me with a look of confusion.

"You don't know who Lady Ortega is?" she asked incredulously. I shook my head, and her confusion appeared to deepen. Fortunately, Maya spoke up at that moment.

"She was one of the first major performers when the Pokémon Activities Committee began running contests," she explained to me. "She's been a popular figurehead for pokémon charities and activist groups like the Lapras Protection Coalition and The Wooper Foundation. She even made a speech at the National Pokémon Conference asking for regulations against dangerous selective breeding practices in pokémon breeding programmes."

I whistle at that. This woman sounded amazing.

And extremely experienced…

"I thought she was retiring," Alix said, still staring at the screen. "I had no idea she was going to be here today…"

"Well, this is the last contest of the Galar Circuit for the year. Maybe she wanted to retire with the ending of the season," Maya said thoughtfully.

It was a good train of thought, although the three of us didn't have time to ponder it as Austin jumped excitedly to his feet.

"This is great!" He exclaimed. "Do you know how much attention you'll get if you beat her? You'll be a legend!"

"But I-"

"Don't."

I pause as Austin cuts me off. "You never know how a battle is going to go. New trainers beat people who've been training for years all the time. All you need to do is believe in your pokémon."

Maya snorted at his statement.

"It's a bit more complicated in contests, but Austin has a point," she says. "Just because she's experienced doesn't mean she's unbeatable."

"So all you need to do is keep your eye on the prize and aim for the top," Austin finished. He was giving me an encouraging look and I couldn't help but feel inspired by him, a spark of excitement beginning to flare in my chest. With my growing confidence, I turn to Alix and hold my hand out to her.

"Meet you in the final round?"

She smiled at me, before taking my hand and shaking it.

"I look forward to it."

Hello everyone. Been very busy at work and looking for a new place. I had initially wanted to do this as one big chapter but I decided to split it into two. Also been trying to get more comfortable with my writing style, so thank you for the wait. If you want to find some more incredible stories from a bunch of incredible writers, or just want to hang out, come to The Fanfiction Treehouse discord server at: 9XG3U7a.