Part V: The Grand Festival
It was the first day of the Grand Festival and Misty was a bundle of nerves. Good nerves that she was used to but nerves nonetheless. She was excited for the next 3 days. It was the culmination of 3 months of hard work and training that had led to this moment. It was her time to shine and win the Ribbon Cup at last. It was also time to show Ash, wherever he was, what she had learned and how far she had come.
The thought of Ash and his smiling face as he cheered her on calmed her down and gave her a warm sensation in her chest. His memory, his support, the very essence of who he was had been her constant companion in Johto and helped her pull of a historic run that few in the contest world had ever seen. Not even her mother had ever entered a contest circuit and won 5 straight contest to qualify for the Grand Festival with the bare minimum of appearances. Misty had and she had to credit her Pokémon and her drive for it.
All of that meant nothing now though. Everything had been wiped out now and the Grand Festival was a whole new ballgame. She had been here before so she knew what she needed to do. This time she would win. Then it was off to find Ash wherever he was.
"You look beautiful dear." Her mother said as she added the finishing touches to Misty's hair and bringing her attention back to the upcoming appeals round.
"Thanks mom." Misty said with a smile as she looked at herself in the mirror. "I just wish he was here to see me."
"I am sure that he will know." Her mother said and Misty went bright red realizing that she had spoken aloud.
To distract herself from her embarrassment, Misty focused on her look for the Grand Festival. While she was wearing the same blue dress, she had worn for the Wallace Cup, it matched her eyes and was Ash's favorite color, she had decided to do her hair differently as had become a habit for her.
Instead of a pony tail and curling her bangs or pigtails, Misty had asked her mother to braid the side bangs. Then she had had them pulled back and clipped with her hair at the back to form a crown of sorts. The rest of her hair was lose and flowing down her back. She thought it looked good and so did her mom.
"Alright, time for the clip." Johanna said and Misty smiled as she pulled out the box that her mom had gotten her. "It will be perfect for this."
Opening it Misty revealed the clip she would wear. It was an elegant, enamel clip that was fancy and could only really worn for such a contest or formal do. That wasn't all though. The important thing was what the clip was. It was a tastefully done, smiling Pikachu face. An homage to Ash and his partner that allowed Misty to feel like he was there, watching over her as she competed in her second Grand Festival.
Gently taking it out of the case, she handed it over to her mother. Johanna took it and easily clipped it into place so that it was in the center of her head. Misty was now ready to take on the Grand Festival.
"So, you know what you are doing?" Johanna asked her. "With your appeal?"
"You, we have been practicing this for a while now." Misty said with a smile at the special routine she had been planning for this competition. "I know that Buneary especially is looking forward to this."
"Well you have been very secretive about the appeal." Johanna said with a smile. "I can't wait to see it."
"Another thing that I Ash was here to see it." Misty said with a sad sigh that the boy she loved wouldn't see it. "He would appreciate it."
"Oh I have a feeling that Ash will find out." Johanna said cryptically. "If it is as special as you claim it is, how can he not find out?"
"Huh?" Misty asked her mom confused.
"Never mind." Johanna said dismissing it. "Is it time?"
"Soon mom." Misty said as a buzzer sounded letting them know that there was 5 minutes before the first 3 appeals on the 3-appeals stage set up to handle the large number of competitors. "Now go, get your seat I will be up in about half an hour and I need to focus."
Johanna nodded and smiled as she left Misty alone. She had been here before and knew that when it came time, a coordinator needed a few minutes alone to prepare for the biggest appeal of the season. She was looking forward to seeing what Misty had come up with.
Misty closed her eyes once her mom was gone and took a deep, calming, breath as she found her center and got into the zone. It was game time, time to focus and time to dazzle Johto.
"Up next, the Prodigy of Sinnoh, Misty from Twinleaf Town!" The announcer, who was from the same family as the announcers in the other regions, shouted and Misty ran out from behind the curtain on her appeal stage beaming, holding up her dress so that she could run without tripping.
"Buneary, Furret, spotlight!" Misty yelled as she reached the end of her run and threw two Poke Balls in ball capsules up in the air without hesitation.
They split and her 2 normal type Pokémon burst forth, the ball capsules kicking in. Buneary materialized in a series of hearts that she playfully batted away with her ears in as she somersaulted to the ground. Furret, Misty's only Johto capture, burst forth in series of slashes that he matched with his claws as he showed ove his lithe body, earning approval from the crowd and judges.
"Now Buneary, use Ice Beam!" Misty ordered pointing to the center of the stage.
"Buneary!" The Rabbit Pokémon said and opened her mouth and began to form a block of ice.
"Furret, now use Fury Swipes on the ice as it forms." Misty ordered.
"Fur!" Furret barked.
Leaping into action as he began carving the ice into the shape they had come up with while Buneary was still using her own attack. It was a testament to skill and control to carve the ice while it was being formed as Furret could easily be frozen. The risk would have huge payoffs and show both Pokémon's speed and control in the process.
The shape quickly took form and it showed off the power and skill of her Pokémon as they worked fast to create the large sculpture. In less than a minute it was done and the crowd gasped at the sight.
Buneary was standing atop the sparkling ice statue of a very familiar looking Pikachu. It was Ash's down to a tee, trust Buneary to get it right given her massive crush on the electric rodent. Pikachu was now standing in the center of the stage looking majestic. He was looking up to the sky, smiling, one fist raised and a finger pointing up. in triumph as he stood wide and strong, just the way Pikachu did.
"Now switch!" Misty ordered. "Furret Ice Beam, Buneary, Thunderbolt when it's done!"
Both her Pokémon instantly obeyed with Furret leaping to the ground and using his own ice beam to create a block of ice up against Pikachu. As it was done, Buneary opened her mouth and bolts of lightning shot out, a new move she had learned just for this. It took control and precision to carve the ice with Thunderbolt but Buneary kept doing it, carving into the new block of ice, creating the second statue. This time it earned a lot of awes from the crowd.
It was a self-portrait of Buneary herself, snuggled up next to Pikachu as a lover would. Her eyes were closed and she was smiling contentedly as she rested her head on Pikachu's shoulder, her paws holding her fluff in an adorable gesture of shyness that she always got around Pikachu.
"Now finish!" Misty order. "On top and Ice Beam, both of you!"
Buneary bounced off Pikachu's head and landed on the top of her own erect ear smiling at the crowd. Meanwhile, Furret scrambled up Pikachu, careful not to mar the sparkling ice, and scurried to stand tall and proud atop Pikachu's finger. Both Pokémon then opened their mouths, looked to each other and arced their Ice Beams over the statues that they collided and sparkled in the middle, sparkling flakes of ice down over them.
With that done they all bowed and the crowd was on their feet cheering at the display. Misty was smiling, she knew she had advanced with a performance like that. There was no way that she didn't.
"What an amazing display of ice beams and to use different abilities to carve them into such sweet statues." The announcer said in awe. "I am having chills from it and that's not the ice causing it folks. Misty has outdone herself again."
"A true display of the range of abilities that normal type Pokémon can do." Mr. Contesta said with a nod. "And in a unique and creative way."
"I am all flustered by the cuteness of this." The nurse Joy who served as the second judge for Misty's appeal agreed. "An adorable display by two adorable Pokémon."
Misty just smiled, curtsied this time, and returned her Pokémon. She then walked off the stage beaming. She had done it; the appeal was just as they had practiced and it couldn't have gone any better. She just wished Ash had seen that and understood what it meant and who Pikachu and Buneary symbolized.
"Wow." Ash said his jaw on the floor as he watched Misty's appeal end, standing and clapping with everyone. "Just wow. That was amazing. I've never seen anything like it. Misty is really something else."
"Pikachu." Pikachu said though for him it was more disturbing than anything else.
Buneary had not only captured him perfectly but had made him look like a legendary hero of old. It was embarrassing but he was also flattered by his friend's kind tribute to him. Pikachu wasn't arrogant or narcissistic, he had had enough defeats to know that, but the statue made him look like he couldn't be beaten. Add the fawning Rabbit Pokémon as if she was a damsel in distress and you got a very clear picture.
It was clear to Pikachu that Misty liked Ash. Why else would she make a statue of him in such a setting and looking so heroic with a girl snuggling him. the fact that the Buneary statue had been carved with a power he himself had only added to everything. One thing was for certain, Pikachu was sure he was never going to live this one down.
"She really captured you." Ash said as he recovered and took his seat. "And the way she had Buneary make a sculpture of herself was the perfect complement, it really worked. I didn't know she had a Furret though, that one is really something. I want to battle it and see how it fights."
"Pikachu." Pikachu agreed still shell shocked by the display.
"If that is what Misty did in the appeals stage then I can't wait to she does in the battle stage." Ash said happily, clearly he wasn't getting what Pikachu got from the statue, typical Ash. "I know she will advance."
All Pikachu could do was just nod. There was still a few days left but it was obvious that Misty had advanced to the next stage. Things were starting to get interesting.
"So that is what she was planning." Johanna said with a smile as she saw the statue and knew at once what it meant. "A fitting tribute to Ash, though I think he will miss the point of it. I wonder what he thinks of it?"
"And these 16 talented coordinators have advanced to tomorrow' battle stage!" The announcer said and one by one 16 portraits flipped over on the screen. "Congratulations!"
Misty was nervous, sitting in the competitors room with Buneary, Furret and Piplup as they looked at the cards being flipped over. They needn't have worried as Misty's portrait was the second one shown meaning she had really impressed the judges.
Misty breathed a sigh of relief. She was in the battle stage and she had trained hard for that stage as well. Her team knew how to fight and look good doing it. All that stood between her and the Ribbon Cup were 4 other coordinators.
Misty waited for the bracket to be displayed so that she could see who she was facing. Once she saw, she made a note of his face, returned Buneary and Furret and left the waiting area. She had to change and get ready for the next stage. Furret would be sent back to Professor Rowan's lab as he wasn't experienced enough and Pachirisu would be sent back to complete her roster for the second stage.
Misty didn't notice one of the portraits at the other end of the bracket or the glare she got as she left to go change. It was time to prepare for the battle stage and Misty was fully in the zone. The Ribbon Cup would be hers.
The second round flew by for Misty, as it often did. She easily beat her first opponent with a Battle Off in the second minute. It was not her preferred style but it wasn't her fault that her opponent had used a Tropius and a Hitmontop against her Togekiss and Mamoswine. She had a huge type advantage and even trying to make her moves look nice, she landed direct hits with a few super effective moves that knocked out his Pokémon.
Her quarterfinals went to the end of the time but she had almost twice as many points than her opponent as Piplup and Typhlosion had shown their contest skills with ease. The use of water and fire really worked and since evolving Typhlosion had grown in power to complement the grace that Piplup showed.
The semifinal was closer but at the end Pachirisu landed an effective Super Fang on her opponent's Volbeat to seal it while Togekiss dodged the last-minute attack that might have beaten Misty had It landed. It was a little uncomfortable but the match reminded Misty that she was not invincible and that she had to keep it up to win.
At last it was time for the final. Misty had been so wrapped up in her own drive to win the Ribbon Cup that she had not even noticed who she was facing for it. She just knew that it was the last hurdle between her and the Ribbon Cup. In hindsight, Misty probably should have focused more on who she was facing.
"Well folks that is it, after several exhilarating battles and dazzling appeals, we have narrowed the field down to 2." The announcer said happily as the lights dimmed for the final. "The 2 coordinators who will compete for the Ribbon Cup and become Top Coordinator. First we have the darling of the contest season and the Prodigy of Sinnoh who is looking to become the first coordinator in the history of the Johto contests to go unbeaten in a season; Misty from Twinleaf Town."
Misty ran out beaming and waving to the crowd as they cheered her. She had become a fan favorite on the contest circuit for he grace, style and humility in her victories. Misty wasn't arrogant or full of herself and she always helped out the other coordinators. This and her impressive win streak had led to her popularity and confidence in Johto. She was one win away from the title and had the support of crowd for it.
"And going against her is a coordinator on the other end of the spectrum." The announcer said hyping up the final. "Also, from Sinnoh, making this the first final with no one from Johto in it, the coordinator who took Johto by storm when she first came her, winning 5 of the first 8 contests and becoming the first qualifier for the Grand Festival; presenting Ursula."
"What!" Misty gasped in horror as her unfriendly rival from her home region sauntered out with a confident smirk and a glare of hatred at Misty. "She's here! In the final!"
Misty was in shock. She hadn't even known that Ursula was competing in Johto. She had clearly not been paying attention, so focused had she been on her own goal that Misty had overlooked her potential opponents. Judging by the announcement, Ursula had qualified long before Misty had even come to Johto so that was likely why. Ursula had also been quiet this entire time, something unusual for the spiteful girl and Misty didn't like that, Ursula had a plan to get into Misty's head and she knew it.
"Why hello Dee Dee." Ursula taunted with a malicious grin. "I was hoping we would face in the final. Time to prove once and for all that your successes have been nothing more than luck and that I am the better coordinator."
"Please." Misty replied getting a grip of herself and thinking of the strategy she would need to defeat Ursula. "You have never beaten me; I think that shows who is better. You just like being embarrassed by me on a large stage. Allow me to indulge your wishes again, only larger this time."
"We shall see, Dee Dee." Ursula taunted and Misty ground her teeth at that nickname. "Shame that boyfriend of yours isn't here to watch you lose to a real woman. It would make my inevitable victory sweeter to crush in front of him. What was his name again; Soot?"
"Ash and he's not my boyfriend." Misty snapped back though wishing it was true.
"Could have fooled me with all that praise and adoration you gave him over the last few months." Ursula said before taking on a mock loving tone and look. "Oh Ash, I wouldn't be here without you. You made me the coordinator I am today Ash. Please, take me Ash. Pathetic. And that display of love in the appeals, please, did you really think that he would be impressed by that?"
"That's it, I am going to destroy you." Misty yelled knowing that Ursula was in her head but not caring, she was going to destroy this bitch if it was the last thing she did. "Mamoswine, Typhlosion, spotlight!"
Misty threw her two most powerful Pokémon out and they burst forth, Mamoswine in a ball office and Typhlosion in flames. Seeing Ursula, Mamoswine roared a challenge and stomped his hoof hard on the ground. Typhlosion growled and his color of flames shot out as he reared up in preparation for battle.
"I must admit, this is a little different from the usual small and cute style Dee Dee." Ursula taunted not phased at all by the challenges. "A pathetic and weak display of power though. I will show you. Plusle, Minun, Diamond Dandruff!"
Misty blanched. Not only was Ursula using those 2 Pokémon, the 2 she had had such a bad experience with when she was younger but she was using the full nickname to get to Misty. It was working as Misty was seeing red and it was taking all she could to not attack already.
"What a start!" The announcer said though none of the crowd had heard the exchange over their cheers. "A heated rivalry for our final! There are 5 minutes on the clock. Begin!"
"Mamoswine Ice Shard, Typhlosion Fire Blast." Misty ordered and her Pokémon formed the powerful moves in front of them knowing what to do. "Now, swallow!"
"Again?" Ursula asked confused but the ticking of her points told Misty that it had worked. "I hate that move."
Both of Misty's Pokémon roared as they absorbed their powers. Mamoswine grunted as the Ice Armor took effect, the spikes rising from his back and adding to his power. Meanwhile Typhlosion's reaction was a little different. The flame collar he had erupted in a blinding flame and stayed burning hot and bright.
"Now, Mamoswine, Take Down!" Misty ordered. "Typhlosion get behind and use Flame Wheel."
Mamoswine roared as he began to glow and charged, the ground trembling under his strength. Typhlosion paused and then leapt into the air, spinning and forming a wheel of flame, rolling in Mamoswine's wake. It was an attack they had trained but Misty hadn't used it in a contest before.
"Plusle, Minun, dodge and use helping hand!" Ursula ordered and her Pokémon obeyed, jumping to either side of Mamoswine gracefully and using their moves to boost the other in an appealing way.
The miss caused Misty to lose points and dip below Ursula but she was not done yet. She knew that against two small and agile opponents, Mamoswine was at a disadvantage with speed and agility and that they would easily dodge her attacks. He made up for it with power but if he couldn't land a move then Misty was going to lose points. Still, Misty wasn't an accomplished coordinator for nothing.
"Typhlosion jump to the side and use Eruption!" Misty ordered quickly, timing it just right.
Typhlosion obeyed without question. The fully evolved Johto starter leapt to the side, extinguished the Flame Wheel and then launched a powerful Eruption upwards. Plusle was still in the air and right under it when the move went off and had no time to dodge. The fire engulfed the small electric type as Typhlosion passed under it and rolled gracefully away.
The charred, but still conscious, Pokémon fell to the ground hard and Ursula lost a chunk of points for the direct hit. Misty smiled; it had worked. She knew she could win, she just needed Ursula to make another mistake or two and she had it.
"Typhlosion finish up Plusle, Flamethrower!" Misty ordered.
Usually she wouldn't go for the Battle Off but against Ursula she was going to make an exception. If she didn't then either the speed and agility advantage Ursula had would win by slowly depleting Misty's points or she would fully get into Misty's head and Misty would be the one making mistakes.
"Plusle get up and dodge!" Ursula ordered and the Pokémon found new life and just flipped out of the way, taking a few points from Misty in the process. "Now both of you, use Discharge!"
Typhlosion dodge it, Mamoswine charge into it!" Misty ordered to some confusion from Ursula.
It half worked. Typhlosion was too spent from the series of attacks to dodge and took it head on, howling in pain and losing points for Misty. That hurt but she still had a slim lead and Ursula had made one of the mistakes that Misty had hoped for. She had used an electric attack on Mamoswine.
Mamoswine knew what Misty wanted and charged into the attack without hesitation. Why shouldn't he, it was an electric attack and he was a part ground type, it had little to no. effect. That was seen when he brushed it off, sparkling in the process, and continued charging as if nothing had happened. Ursula lost points for that.
"What!" she yelled in frustration. "How? That was a direct hit."
"What heads up by Misty." The announcer called out. "Mamoswine's ground typing ensures that it won't take damage from an electric attack."
"That's it!" Misty yelled. "Mamoswine, use Ice Fang!"
Mamoswine roared and his tusks became encrusted in a thick layer of ice. He charged right for the shocked Minun who hadn't moved since its last move.
"That is, it I will not lose to her again!" Ursula yelled. "Plusle, Minun, plan B."
Minun nodded and jumped, just avoiding Mamoswine's attack and landing on the ice on Mamoswine's back. The small Pokémon then taunted Typhlosion as Plusle dodge another Flamethrower.
"Alright you two, show off your agility." Ursula ordered. "Keep dodging!"
"We have this guys!" Misty yelled. "Keep it up!"
Misty was lost in the battle and focused on the attack. Usually against Ursula she was the one on the defensive while Ursula incapacitated her with a move like Encore or Sandstorm before Misty figured it out. Now she had the other girl on the backfoot and was pressing the attack. Misty was so focused on ending it that she let her emotions take hold and the fact that she was expecting an incapacitating attack that she didn't realize what Ursula had planned.
Misty gave into her frustration at Ursula and ordered a series of offensive attacks against the Pokémon that had led to her embarrassing nickname and years of teasing. Unfortunately, the pair were very agile and while they got hit a few times, they were glancing blows and only took off a few points here and there. Instead the electric pair dodged or blocked attack after attack and Misty was losing points but with the odd hit she still had a lead. Because of that, Misty didn't realize that she was being led into a trap.
Plusle and Minun were following the orders of their trainer to a tee and quickly separated and drew each of Misty's Pokémon away from the other and moved them to either side of the stage. Misty was too focused on the attack to notice the strategy until it was too late. She had played right into Ursula's hands.
"Mamoswine, Ice Shard!" Misty ordered and the Twin Tusk Pokémon obeyed forming a large ice ball and sending it at the frustrating small Pokémon that were finally back together in the center of the stage and in the air.
"Plusle, Minun, Discharge!" Ursula ordered. "Break it up and fall down."
The Pokémon obeyed, holding hands and sending out a combined discharge that blew up the ball of ice up in a series of sparks that looked great for the electric Pokémon. Some ice still hit them and they fell to the ground hard but created a haze of ice that allowed for some cover.
"They're down, end this!" Misty yelled. "Mamoswine take down, Typhlosion Flame Wheel! Full speed!"
"Discharge again!" Ursula countered. "Obscure yourselves!"
It all happened almost at once. Mamoswine roared and charged, Typhlosion leapt into a spinning wheel of fire and sped towards their opponents just as the Discharge went off. Ursula hadn't been aiming at Misty's Pokémon though but at the remaining ice in the air. It fried it in a blur causing sparkles and mini explosions that hid the stage for a second. It also hid the fact that Mamoswine and Typhlosion were on a collision course for each other.
When the haze clear it was too late. Misty gasped in shock and horror as Plusle and Minun were nowhere to be seen. Instead Misty could only watch in disbelief as the Flame Wheel collided with Mamoswine's Takedown, both traveling at max speed.
The former was super effective and Mamoswine roared in pain as he was thrown back, skidding on his side across the stage. At the same time Typhlosion was sent careening up in the air and away before landing hard, the flames extinguished and the Pokémon battered from the attack. Misty grimaced as she heard her points drop significantly from the clever trick.
Both her Pokémon weren't out though. They both got up as they and Misty looked for the pair of electric types. They were on the other side of the field dancing and taunting Misty, their hands sparking with electricity. Misty growled knowing that the attack had cost her a lot and it would be hard to recover. Then she heard it, through the crowd she heard his voice.
"You can do it Misty!" Ash yelled to here. "I know you can! I believe in you!"
Misty knew that it wasn't him, it couldn't be. Ash was still in Unova or at least on his way back to Kanto, she knew that. He wasn't here for her, that would have been too amazing to believe. She was imagining it, that was it, it was a voice of her love, encouraging her to continue and win.
She knew that Ash had faith in her even when she didn't, that was what her mind was telling her. She had often heard his words in her head in her toughest moments over the last few months, never this clear but then again this was the final of the Grand Festival so it was the toughest moment of all. Misty was not going to let Ash and her Pokémon down now.
"Typhlosion, jump onto Mamoswine's back." Misty ordered and the Volcano Pokémon obeyed without hesitation. As soon Typhlosion was on Mamoswine Misty gave her last order as time was running out. "Mamoswine, Earthquake, maximum power! Bring the fucking roof down!"
Mamoswine roar and raised his front feet, Typhlosion hanging on for dear life as the attack would affect him as well if he was on the ground and given typing it would have been super effective. Mamoswine came down hard and unleashed the powerful attack. The ground began shaking and Plusle, Minun, Ursula and even the announcer were thrown on their feet. Misty only kept standing, her teeth gritted, through sheer willpower. Then, just as it began, the bell rang.
Misty gasped as the move ended abruptly. Time was up and the final was over. Both her and Ursula, still on the floor, wiped their heads to the scoreboard. It had been so intense that they had been focused solely on the battle and not the scores at the end. Misty's heart was about to explode as she looked.
The scores were almost identical. Both of them were down to just a sliver and with the naked eye Misty couldn't tell who had won. It was Sinnoh all over again, only even closer, and Misty wasn't sure she could handle a similar result again.
"What a final!" The announcer said getting shakily to her feet as the crowd fell silent, amazed at what they had watch and trying to see who won. "I don't think we have ever seen on like that before. Tactics that complemented all sides. Moves of grace and sheer power. Overcoming multiple disadvantages to keep it close."
Just then the judges nodded, they had been conferring regarding the scores and now handed a card to the announcer. She looked at it and didn't give anything away.
"The results are in and this has been the closest final in the history of the Contest Committee." The announcer said, adding to the hype of the announcement. "But we have a winner! By one point, the winner of the Johto Grand Festival and the new Top Coordinator is…"
The announcer then paused for added effect. Misty felt that the pause was unnecessary and would likely give her a heart attack. At last, the announcer spoke one name.
"Ursula!"
If Misty hadn't been wearing a dress that she really liked she would have collapsed to her knees. She had lost. Not only that, she had lost by a point and to Ursula of all people. The crowd was in stunned silence, unable to process the results, as the confetti went off and the shock of victory hit Ursula.
Misty's rival leapt up, she hadn't gotten off the floor until the announcement, screaming in joy as she realized that she had won the Ribbon Cup. Rushing over with her Pokémon, Ursula ran to the center were a podium was raising out of the floor, the cup on it.
"I did it!" Ursula screamed. "I won. I finally beat her! I am better than Dee Dee!"
Misty knew she had to be graceful despite everything and Ursula was not making it easy. It was hard, it took all her energy but she managed it. Pulling out her Poke Balls, she returned her tired Pokémon with a sad smile.
"You two did really well, thank you." Misty said quietly to them. "I was the one who failed you. You were amazing. Take a good long rest."
Misty then looked up, fighting back tears as she stood straight up and met Ursula's eyes. The she smiled and began to clap, the first to do so, congratulating Ursula on her victory. Misty's reaction got the crowd going and the applause began, many standing as they had just witness a final for the ages.
Ursula smirked at Misty, clearly showing less grace in her victory than Misty was showing in her defeat but Misty expected no less. She was bouncing, waiting for the cup to be given to her. Misty just continued to clap, not giving into Ursula and her desires, determined to be graceful in defeat.
"Ursula that truly was a final unlike any we have ever seen." Mr. Contesta was saying as he picked up the cup and walked over to her. "It is an honor to present to you the Ribbon Cup as the winner of the Johto Grand Festival. Congratulations!"
"Thank you!" Ursula said as she took the cup and raised it above her head, smirking at Misty the entire time.
Misty just smiled and clapped. When Ursula lowered the cup and held it to her chest and the announcer came over to interview her, Misty knew that she could leave without seeming spiteful or bitter. Turning, she quietly left the stage and headed back, getting Piplup's Poke Ball out to bring him out to be with her. She had to change and see her mom, then she could cry.
Ash had been hooked to the final, on the edge of his seat the entire time. It was unlike any he had witnessed before and more like a gym battle then a contest one, though the grace was still there.
It wasn't what Ash had expected but when he had seen that it was Ursula that Misty would face in the final he knew it would be different. Then, when Misty revealed that she was using her Mamoswine and Typhlosion, the latter meaning that Quilava had evolved in the last few months, that it would be far from normal.
Misty had gone for power, not her usual style but one she could pull off if need be, and it had almost worked. She had landed a few good hits but it was clear that Ursula had the battle from the start. He hadn't heard their exchange but he knew from her reactions that Ursula was in Misty's head. Then she had tricked Misty.
Ash had to admit, though never to Misty's face, that it was impressive. Ursula had a significant disadvantage in both power and in type as Mamoswine was immune to electricity. She had instead used her superior speed and agility to deceive Misty, then sprung the trap and used Misty's own Pokémon against themselves. With fire and ice, Misty had a disadvantage and it had played off. That move had been what had won the final for Ursula.
Misty had been leading, barely, until then but dipped just below after the trick. With almost no time left Ash had yelled out support and encouragement to Misty, knowing that she wouldn't hear him but hoping that she could recover. She had and had she had one more second she would have won. Plusle and Minun were on the floor and Earthquake had just started. She had it but the time had been against her for once.
Ash knew what he had to do, he had to go to her. he had hoped to congratulate her on a victory with a surprise appearance after she lifted the Ribbon Cup. Instead he would be there for her defeat and comfort her as she broke down from the brutal loss. He had been there before; he knew how to handle it.
He didn't even stay for the cup presentation, it wasn't Misty getting it so it wasn't worth his time. Ash knew that he had to find Misty first. He left his seat, slipped out during the distraction of the end of the final and headed backstage. He knew the stadium from his time in the Silver Conference so he knew that he could find Misty. He had to. She needed him now more than ever and Ash was determined to be there for her. Nothing would stop him.
Johanna had been upset and devastated for her daughter to lose like that, Johanna had never seen a final that close. It had been a fair battle but it was still hard. Misty had gone with a style she didn't usually use and Johanna knew that it was because of Ursula.
Still, despite everything, her daughter had shown grace and dignity in defeat and Johanna couldn't be more proud of her. Though her choice of language at one point would earn a reproach from the former Top Coordinator.
Johanna was getting up to head backstage when she saw a raven-haired boy with a Pikachu on his shoulder dash out and head to the backstage area before she could reach it. Johanna smiled and instead headed back to her seat to watch the presentation of the Ribbon Cup. Ash had gone to Misty and she had a feeling seeing him here for her was just what Misty needed in this moment.
Johanna would be there for her daughter but right now Misty needed Ash more. Johanna knew in her heart that this was it, it was time for Misty to be honest with him about how she felt and she wasn't going to ruin it for Misty, at least not right away. She still had her motherly duties to do after all.
Sitting back down, Johanna continued to clap for the battle. it had been a good one, one that no one would forget. Today was a day for memories, some good and some bad, and there was just one more for Misty to make. One that Johanna hoped her daughter would remember for the rest of her life.
