Part CI: Opening Salvo

"Emily, a word please." Serena said as she approached the younger brunette girl she'd lost to in her Contest debut. "We need to talk about something important."

"Sure, what's up Serena?" Emily asked as Serena led them to a corner of the waiting room, no one paying them much heed as they prepared for the Contest.

It was a few days since the troubling encounter with Brianna that had revealed Drew and Kenny's presence to them and Drew's goal of tearing down May for what he perceived that she'd done to him. Kenny had his own issues with Ash but that wasn't fully relevant at the moment, the focus right now was Drew and his plan.

It had been disturbing to meet him and Serena was worried for May after it as she was now driven to beat him, but Serena could see the trauma there and knew that May needed to talk to someone and soon. Clearly the man had not taken losing her well but whatever he felt for her it wasn't love, at least not as Serena saw it but Drew might in some weird, twisted way.

Whatever it was, it had caused him to go down a dark path, corrupting Brianna due to her idolization of him along the way and gaining Kenny as a supporter because of Kenny's own anger towards Ash and desire for Misty. Now he was finally exercising some sense of vengeance against them by starting a proxy war between Brianna and Serena.

Of course, because Kenny was there and the overall connection to Ash who was the focal point of the boys' issues, Emily was now dragged into it as well. They knew she'd be here because Brianna had been eager to beat both of them so as soon as Serena registered and got to the waiting room she went to find and explain everything to the Kanto girl. She had a right to know about what was going on.

Emily had already been in the waiting room in the same outfit as the last Contest they were in, something Serena was going to rectify if she could as a girl needed multiple outfits for things like this, going over a notebook for some reason. Serena herself had changed up her outfit and gone with a white dress with a pink skirt thing underneath it and matching gloves and simple white shoes. She'd kept her accessories the same though, she'd change them up next time.

"Something serious unfortunately but first off how have you been?" Serena asked softly once they were away from everyone else and speaking low so that they wouldn't be overheard when Serena brought up Brianna. "Misty said you and Adam had changed your route because of him taking on gyms now so how as that affected things?"

"Honestly, it's not changed much." Emily said with shrug. "It's changed our route, but Contests are more right place right time for me, and there are a lot of them this year, so it worked out well for us. We went to Santalune City after Odyssey Village, but Viola was out of town when we arrived. Rather than stay we headed back to Lumiose City so that Adam could face Clemont."

"How'd that go?" Serena asked realizing that she knew where Viola had likely been during that time seeing as they'd run into her recently. "Clemont is a good friend of mine so I know him well."

"It was a little underwhelming actually." Emily said surprising Serena. "I know Clemont is supposed to be good but Heliolisk and Bunnelby are either part or pure normal types and Magneton is part steel type. All are weak to fighting types, so he was at a serious disadvantage against Adam and while Adam tends to overthink things, he knows how to face Pokémon weak to his chosen type. Adam only lost Makuhita, and he switched Poliwrath and Scrafty in and out as necessary to win his first ever badge."

"Huh that is a surprise." Serena said, she'd not expected Clemont to go down so easily but if Adam really knew fighting types and was quick enough then it made sense. "But if they are older and more experienced Pokémon then I can see it. You did say he'd been on journeys before and unlike Ash he doesn't seem to restart his team from what he told us so that would do it."

"Yeah it was a bit of a shock, but Adam is pretty good at battling when he can prepare for it, it's the unexpected that gets him." Emily said. "He also beat Grant the other day when we were in Cyllage just before this, but a 6 on 2 battle is a guarantee win, especially with a type advantage again."

"Grant's a rock type specialist so that would do it." Serena said. "Who'd he lose in the battle?"

"Adam lost Makuhita and Pancham in the battle but Poliwrath beat Grant's Onix and Medicham won against Tyrunt, so it was another win for him." Emily said and Serena detected a note of pride in her voice. "Only Hitmonlee hasn't been used yet. Course next up is Coumarine City which is a grass type gym apparently so a different challenge as fighting and grass types are neutral against each other."

"I don't know Ramos well; we've met once and briefly at that so I can't speak to his skills." Serena said recalling the Coumarine Gym Leader she'd met while they were in the city for the Showcase there. "Though I'm surprised you're not going to Shalour next. It's closer and is the fighting type gym in Kalos. It's where we're heading."

"Korrina is apparently going to be out of town for a bit." Emily said though Serena heard a note of potential jealousy in Emily's voice when she said Korrina's name. "And Coumarine is having a large festival in a little over a month due to a Showcase and Contest that will be there, so we want to go there before the chaos and then backtrack to Shalour when things die down."

"I see well to each their own." Serena said. "Won't you be in the Coumarine Contest though? We're going there in part because of that Contest."

"If I win today as I plan I won't feel as much pressure to be in it." Emily said shaking her head surprising Serena. "I won a second ribbon between Lumiose and Cyllage so I'm two for two just like how Misty started last year. One more and I am wildcard eligible already so I feel like we can take it easy after that."

"With both of you doing things that would be a nice comfort to have." Serena said. "Don't want to overexert yourselves after all."

"I pushed myself a little too hard last year in Kanto because I was a nervous rookie, so I am going to be more sensible here this year." Emily admitted. "Plus, Adam wants to get a few more badges in as he has to earn more than me, so this is better. Also, I want to be in the Wallace Cup and that is towards the end of the year, so I need to space out my Contests a bit to avoid getting 5 ribbons before it."

"I see well on the note of winning I need to warn you of someone." Serena said as Brianna walked in, glared at her, and then went to a different corner to prepare making the timing perfect. "Someone who just arrived in fact."

Serena watched Emily look at the new arrival and studied Brianna herself. The girl was wearing a calf length bright green dress with lilac ruffles and puffy sleeves, matching shoes, and white gloves. She had her hair held back in a green hairband that had a segmented design on it with a fake red and blue flower on each end. She looked good but then again all of them did as Kalos knew fancy dress.

"The only person who arrived is Brianna." Emily said shocking Serena that she knew who the girl was. "She's definitely the favorite to win this Contest now but that's not what you meant is it?"

"You know her?" Serena asked.

"Of her, we've never met but I know who she is." Emily said with a nod. "She's from Chrysanthemum Town in Kanto and a good coordinator at that. She has 3 Grand Festival appearances under her belt, the only one in Kalos with multiple I believe."

"I know that." Serena said. "She's certainly going to be a favorite this year."

"Oh no doubt." Emily said. "I saw her in the Kanto one a few years back when I was just starting to get into Contests so I watched them on TV whenever I could. That was the year Misty lost the Sinnoh finals. I had watched the Kanto Grand Festival before that and Brianna was top 8 and the second highest finishing Kanto coordinator that year, so I followed her history after that. I had heard rumors she was in Kalos, but this confirms it."

"Is that all you know about her?" Serena said still a little surprised by how much Emily knew but if they were both from Kanto it made more sense that Emily would know more about her fellow Kantonian. "Anything else that might be helpful in understanding her?"

"I know she was top 4 in Hoenn the year after her Kanto performance and runner-up last year in Johto but that was more after I learned she might be here and looked into her past." Emily said. "I know that she has a mentor who is a noted coordinator and mimics whoever it is more than is healthy but that is about it."

"Well, that mentor is a Hoenn coordinator called Drew." Serena said. "And he's May's ex."

"Oh." Emily said her eyes wide at Serena's words. "I've heard of him. I didn't know the connection to May, though Misty might have mentioned it in the past I'm not sure, but I know who he is by his reputation. He was a runner-up in Hoenn as a rookie but regressed a bit with a top 8 in Kanto and top 4 in Johto after that but then he disappeared for a year. He won in Sinnoh last year, Adam found out because of the Hoenn connection they share, so I assumed he had gone to one of the other expansion regions to be a judge after I saw Misty here."

"Turns out he turned down the Committee's offer and came here instead." Serena said her tone dark. "He's traveling with Brianna, who worships him and is in love with him, and he's mentoring her on the circuit similar to how May is mentoring me."

"There's more to this than that isn't there." Emily said clearly picking up on Serena's tone. "And it has to do with May and Brianna's connection to Drew."

"Correct." Serena said. "I won't say more than I have to as there are personal elements that even I am unaware of but from what I've heard Drew was not a good boyfriend to May and I know that he betrayed her trust after she beat him in the Johto semis and told her finals opponent how to beat her."

"He did what?" Emily asked and Serena agreed with her shock. "That's horrible."

"Yeah and what's worse he blames May for it." Serena said. "Of course, she's innocent and rightfully dumped his ass after that, and he spent a year off the circuit. That year made him want to get revenge on May. It was also the year Brianna was in Hoenn and they met again. I believe he used that love to turn her to his side and pollute her against May. Brianna already had a jealous problem with May because both liked Drew at the same time in Kanto so it likely wasn't hard."

"I can kinda see that." Emily said as Serena watched her process what Serena had said. "If Kenny was anything to go on then I know how love can lead to hate and obsession in someone. Are you sure though?"

"I am seeing as we ran into them the other day and Brianna made it clear that her goal was to crush me this year as I was May's protégé and she was Drew's." Serena said with a nod. "Drew confirmed all this and his plan to use Brianna to get to May through me moments later when he showed up. She hates May now and by extension me so she's now a rival and not a good one like you."

"I can see that as a way for Drew to get back at May." Emily said. "But, um, why let me know? I barely know May as it is, I am not connected to her like you are."

"Because they weren't alone." Serena said. "Kenny was with them."

"Oh." Emily said and Serena saw the Mistying begin to come into Emily's eyes.

"Drew won in Sinnoh last year and the Kanto final was an all Sinnoh final." Serena remined Emily. "It was all over the region so naturally he saw it and knew of the connection to Ash and May, so he sought Kenny out. Kenny willingly joined them and is now traveling with them so that he could try for Misty again and finally battle Ash to prove his dominance. He and Ash have an important full battle in the coming days and the loser will leave Kalos for at least a year."

"Oh, I see." Emily said. "I remember how Kenny was when we met him at the Grand Reception so that doesn't surprise me that he'd join for a chance at going after Ash, but does he really think he can beat Ash in a full battle?"

"Totally." Serena said with a grin. "Ash is going to annihilate him when they battle in a few days, so we aren't worried about that. We should be worried about Brianna because she's after you as well."

"Why me?" Emily asked confused. "I mean as a rival I understand, me and that Jessilina girl are the only ones with records that are almost as good as Brianna's that I know of, but I don't see why it has to be negative."

"Alas it is all about who you are connected to." Serena said with a sigh. "You are seen as Misty's protégé, or as close as you can be, which makes you a target simply because Misty is in Kalos and she's a Top Coordinator but that's only the first level. Remember that Misty is close with May and, as much as I hate to admit it, Ash's girlfriend. She's part of the cabal that Drew and Kenny hate and see as the villains so that makes us fair targets in this proxy war that Drew has started. Misty didn't want you involved but we don't have a choice it seems."

"Huh well I…" Emily began but whatever she was going to say was cut off by Jillian appearing on screen and begin her intro, at the same time Brianna casually walked over to them having given them a little space before making her move.

"Good you're both together, I can make this simple and quick." Brianna said with a grin. "Serena knows the score but so that you do as well Emily, I am here to destroy both of you on my way to the Ribbon Cup. I am the instrument of vengeance on Ash Ketchum and those who love him. My love and my other cohort will be supporting me as I show them which of the three protégés is the best and proving which one is the best mentor."

"I don't want any of this Brianna." Emily said. "I respect you as a rival because of your record compared to mine but I don't want any bad blood between us."

"Too late for that." Brianna said. "You signed onto this the moment you were seen to be Misty's protégé just as Serena joined when she became May's. It's done and set in stone so deal with it. I will show who's best and that will begin with my appeal. I'm up first so I'm going to set the tone for the Contest."

Before Serena or Emily could respond Brianna just smirked at them and then turned and left the room to go get ready as Jillian was going over the battle format and the slightly complicated Kalos rules. Serena just scowled at her before noticing that Emily was a little shook from the exchange.

"You weren't wrong." Emily said. "She's after us because of our connections to May and Misty and the anger some fragile men have towards Ash."

"Unfortunately, but this isn't our fault." Serena said putting a reassuring hand on Emily's shoulder. "It's the fault of two excuses for men being unable to handle strong women who don't like them or rejected them once they saw their true colors and who love a real man that actually treats them right. We just happen to be connected to those women because they are our friends and mentors who we look up to. Well, that and something else for me as well."

"I get that and that means one thing." Emily said her voice hardening in a tone Serena hadn't expected to hear, there was a fighting spirit in this girl that she'd not noticed before. "We can't let her get to us. We have to defend the honor of our mentors, of our friends, and show her who is better. This can't be just about us now. If she wants it to be about them then I say fine let it be about them and we will show them that we are just as good as Misty and May. We will show them why we respect and admire them so much."

"That was surprisingly well said." Serena said a little taken aback by Emily's words but realizing that they were what she needed to hear as she removed her hand from Emily's shoulder. "Yes, let's do that. We can't let one corrupted brat best us or get into our heads because that is what she wants. We're better than that and we will let our Pokémon settle this."

"It won't be easy, but it can be done." Emily said with a nod. "But let's check her appeal out, she will set the standard for us to rise to and I for one intend to rise above it."

"Same here." Serena said as she looked up at the screen, her resolve hardening. "Same here."

Emily was right, they couldn't let Brianna get to them or else she'd win. Misty didn't let Kenny get to her when he'd tried to do so, she showed him who was boss when she handed him his ass on a ghostly platter in the Grand Festival final and Ash would roast it in their battle. She and Emily could handle Brianna the same way. How hard could it be?


"First up we have a real treat for you." Jillian said as Brianna got into position ready to show her rivals that she wasn't one to be messed with but rather the best her. "She's got the best record of any registered coordinator in Kalos with 3 Grand Festival appearances including a runner-up in the Johto Grand Festival last year. She was the preseason favorite, but she's not competed until today adding to her mystique. From Chrysanthemum Town in Kanto, it's the Flower of Kanto herself, Brianna."

Brianna smiled as she walked out of the wings and waved to the cheering crowd as she strolled to her starting spot with perfect confidence. She was going to show them why she was the favorite and make it clear to May that Drew's teachings were far superior to her own.

"Masquerain, steal the stage!" Brianna said tossing her Poke Ball out and beginning her first appeal. In Kalos

"Start us off with Bubble." Brianna said. "Spread it out across the stage."

Masquerain just opened its mouth and spewed forth the bubbles that gave the water type attack its name. As soon as they were out, it moved its head from side to side to spread the bubbles out so that they filled the stage as they moved across it. That was just what Brianna needed out of the move to highlight one of Masquerain's best features.

"Excellent now show off how those 4 wings work and fly to the other side and back through the bubbles." Brianna commanded. "Remind everyone why you can fly in any direction."

Masquerain did as instructed and fluttered forward going in and out of the bubbles as well as over and under them in an intricate pattern. The entire time its wings beat heavily, and it showed off how it could fly in any direction by going around bubbles other flying type couldn't. Add in that it was avoiding all the bubbles without touching any of them and the distortion of the bubbles enhanced and showed off its scales perfectly. It was a beautiful combination that really highlighted Masquerain as a Pokémon.

"Now use Silver Wind to destroy them." Brianna said as it returned to hover in front of her.

Again, Masquerain followed orders and sent out the beautiful, slivery, bug type attack. The move swept across the stage and burst the bubbles in a wave that glittered and sparkled as it moved causing the crowd to swoon at the sight. Brianna smile, it was time to end this in style.

"Sweet Scent." Brianna said. "Then follow it up with Gust so that everyone can smell it."

Masquerain beat its wings and created a sweet-smelling aroma that calmed the judges as it filled the stage in front of it. Then it upped it by hitting the airborne attack with a powerful but controlled Gust that blew the Sweet Scent into the crowd so that they could smell it as well and really set the mood for the Contest.

It was the perfect end to the appeal and as the Gust ended, Brianna and Masquerain turned to the judges. They then bowed formally and calmly waited for their feedback on the appeal.

"What an appeal." Jillian said as Masquerain returned to hover by Brianna. "I wonder what our judges think of it?"

"A splendid use of Masquerain's mobility and types the way I would expect a coordinator to do." Robert, a Top Coordinator from Hoenn who was judging in place of Mr. Contesta said. "It was mesmerizing and really utilized the best attributes of your Pokémon. Well done."

"Yes remarkable." Sukizo said with a nod, he was apparently available for this Contest.

"I thought Masquerain was just adorable and really showed off not just its current types but its former water type as well from when it was a Surskit." Nurse Joy said with a smile. "A truly great appeal to start out this Contest."

Brianna just bowed again and returned Masquerain before she turned and walked off. She smirked to herself as she left the stage she'd set the bar high and shown not just her rivals but all of Kalos that she was the best on the circuit this year.

"Beat that bitches." Brianna muttered as she returned to the waiting room to watch the other appeals, but she only cared about two that were still to come.


"OK that was really good." Serena said reluctantly as the appeal ended. "I can see why she's a favorite. She showed her experience there."

"She is in her 5th year as a coordinator, so it is to be expected." Emily pointed out. "She'll advance for sure, but we know what the bar is, and I know we can at least match it and advance as well."

"I'll do my best." Serena said. "But let's see the other competition first so we get a sense of what the cut off standard is."

She saw Emily nod out of the corner of her eye as they continued to watch the next few appeals. Neither girl acknowledged Brianna when she returned and kept their focus on the screen until Emily left after the 5th Coordinator ended as she was the 7th one up.

Serena was near the end of the order, so she just kept watching as she waited for Emily to go. So far none had been near Brianna's level and only one other had even risen to what Serena would consider advancement level, but she could never take things easy. Hopefully, Emily matched Brianna's performance.

"Thank you for your feedback and now onto the 7th coordinator." Jillian said as the 6th left, and she began Emily's introduction while Serena watched. "She's already known on this circuit as the winner of the first ever Kalos Contest out in Odyssey Village, a win she followed up with a second one a few weeks later making her the first coordinator with two ribbons and trying to become the first eligible for the wildcard event before the Grand Festival. She's going to be a favorite this year, from Mt. Moon out in Kanto, it's the Charming Fairy herself, Emily."

Serena just watched as the crowd cheered and Emily walked to her starting spot showing the confidence of a coordinator who'd done this plenty of times before. Serena was curious as to what Pokémon Emily would use. It would almost certainly be a fairy type, unless it was her Eevee, but would it be a new one or one of her old ones.

"Klefki, fairy lights." Emily said throwing the Poke Ball out.

"So, it is a new one." Serena muttered to herself as the ball burst open and the odd-looking steel and fairy type appeared. "Or at least one she didn't use last time."

Klefki was the Pokémon that Monsieur Pierre used to hold the Princess Key for a given Showcase as it was, well, a sentient keychain effectively. A cute little Pokémon that had been a pure steel type until an exhibition battle a few months back between two Kalos elite four members when Wilkstrom's Klefki shrugged off and easily beat two Drasna's Pokémon before she could counter it.

That battle led to it being discovered that Klefki was one of the Pokémon that had added a fairy type making it a dual type now. Serena felt that it was a fitting Pokémon for Emily she was interested in seeing how the Kanto girl used it.

"Start us off by showing your new secondary type." Emily said. "Fairy Wind."

Serena watched as what was now the 4th official fairy type move, Disarming Voice having been confirmed shortly before in large part due to Max's tests apparently, spewed from Klefki's mouth. The attractive pink mist filled the stage, more than expected showing that Klefki had a lot more power than its small stature would imply.

"Now clear the stage with your original type." Emily said. "Mirror shot."

Klefki jingled happily before emitting a bright, slivery, flash from its whole body. It wasn't as bright as Dazzling Gleam, so it didn't blind the judges and it further enhanced Klefki's look as it made the steel and fairy type shine when it did it. The force of the move easily cleared up the stage while showing the two types of Klefki at the same time.

"Double Team." Emily said. "Form a circle."

Klefki instantly formed several shadows of itself with the common move. They were all in a circle and Serena had a feeling that a move was coming to finish the appeal off in style. She was right though she was a little surprised with the move.

"Flash Cannon." Emily said.

Serena watched as Klefki opened its mouth and sent out the steel type move. The real one went first but all the shadows followed suit in a circular wave pattern that sent out the silver light of the steel type move in a beautiful, timed ring to finish the appeal. That was confirmed a moment later when Klefki and Emily turned and bowed to the judges. Klefki unfurling itself to do so.

"Another amazing and creative appeal from one of the favorites this year." Jillian said. "At least I think so but do the judges agree?"

"Emily did a great job showing off Klefki's recently confirmed fairy type at the start while adding in its original steel type during." Robert said with a nod. "She really showed off its unique body without obscuring its small stature, not an easy feat."

"Yes remarkable." Sukizo said in what Serena was learning was his only response apparently.

"Klefki is simply adorable but it reminded us that there is a lot more in it than just cuteness." Nurse Joy said. "Just because a Pokémon looks cute doesn't mean it can't fight and Emily showed that today."

Emily just bowed again, recalled her Pokémon, and left the stage. Serena watched all this and knew that she had time for a quick debrief with Emily as she was slated to go 18th out of 21 coordinators today. It hadn't been as good as Brianna's had been unfortunately, but it was easily the second best so far and easily enough to advance.

"Not my best showing, I'll admit that right now." Emily said to her, Serena had been so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed the girl approaching her until she spoke. "But I think it was still good."

"I am no expert on this, but I know from Misty that you shouldn't obscure a Pokémon but show it off, it's her most important advice when it comes to appeals, and that's what I saw." Serena said with a smile. "So, I think you did a fine job with it. Easily enough to advance."

"True and that is the important part." Emily said. "It doesn't matter if it was better than Brianna's or not, just that it was top 8. I can let the battles do the talking as it's a whole new Contest then."

"Agreed." Serena said with a nod. "Though I have to ask, how'd you get a Klefki? I have only seen one in my time and that one is Monsieur Pierre's partner. It's what holds the Princess Key that will be awarded to the winner of a Showcase."

"That is oddly perfect that a Klefki would be used as such." Emily said with a chuckle. "And as for my Klefki, I came across it a few days after landing in Lumiose City. It was a city Pokémon that was being harassed because it wouldn't give back the keys it liked to their owners. It hadn't been classified as a fairy type yet, but I felt a connection to it and somehow got through to it after it was badly hurt by a fire type. I nursed it back to health and gave it one of my keys in exchange for the ones it stole and told it off for stealing. Afterwards it apologized and decided to join me."

"That is one way to catch a Pokémon." Serena said. "Then again I got my Pancham because he loved to perform but stole things that he liked as well. I told him it was a bad thing to do and gave him a pair of sunglasses that I had. He loves them and looks cool with them on his head. After that he agreed to be mine if I could best him in battle which Fennekin did, so I caught him. He was the first Pokémon I caught."

"Sometimes that's how it works." Emily said. "My Spritzee loves to battle and challenged Whimsicott to a battle when we ran into it. Whimsicott won and Spritzee decided to join me to get stronger as part of my team."

"I remember your Spritzee from the last Contest." Serena said. "I've faced off against Aria's Aromatisse in both a battle and a Showcase, so I have met the evolved form and I know that Valarie's main Pokémon is a Spritzee, so I expect to see it when we reach Laverre City."

"Yeah that is something I have to figure out when the time is right." Emily said. "It requires trade energy to evolve so I'm not sure how to do so without trading it. I know that Gurdurr and Machoke have a similar evolution so if Adam gets either of those we can trade and then trade back to evolve them and help each other out but otherwise I can't think of a way to do so."

"There is likely a way without the need to trade and trade back." Serena said. "Maybe a trade with yourself but I've never traded a Pokémon so I wouldn't know."

"Perhaps." Emily mused. "But it isn't important right now as Spritzee doesn't want to evolve at the moment."

"Don't force it then." Serena said. "Best to sort it out when it's ready."

Emily just nodded as they fell into silence to watch the remaining appeals. Serena kept watching them and the more she watched the more she felt her confidence building. Most were good but only few could compare to Emily's and none to Brianna's. Serena knew that she could match Emily and if only 5 coordinators were really good by the time she went then Serena was in a good place going into her appeal.

Of course, that number jumped to 6 with the one before her as she watched it from the wings but that didn't matter to her. Serena had an appeal that she had perfected with May this week, the arrival of their advisories had caused a change in which Pokémon she was going to use, and a target to reach with Brianna's, so she was going to go out and do it. She would advance to the battles and then she had the chance to show up Brianna.

"Moving on, we only have four more coordinators left to go and this one is one of the home-grown coordinators that has a good portion of Kalos behind her." Jillian said. "She's a performer with an impressive record, including a Master Class win before she lost to Aria when she challenged the reigning Kalos Queen for her title. She's coordinating to enhance her performance repertoire and showing everyone how a Kalos girl does it. Give it up for the Kalos Princess herself, Serena."

Serena just smiled and waved to the cheering crowd as she walked out and to her spot. May and Misty had told her to try and get used to this, but they never did, and Serena was sure that she wouldn't either. It was all a bit much and she didn't even have a ribbon yet, so it didn't feel deserved. Well now was her chance to change that by putting on an appeal only a performer could do.

"Vivillon, let's go." Serena said throwing out her Poke Ball.

The ball burst open and her Scale Pokémon which had the same wing pattern as Viola's appeared before her. Serena smiled at the way its wings sparkled, the specialty bug type poffins, a variant on Misty's special recipe that had to be adjusted for the scales from the carapace enhancement it usually had, really brought them out in the light. That was just the start, however.

"Vivillon, start us out with Aromatherapy." Serena said.

Vivillon beat its wings and a soothing, dark pink, powder filled the stage causing the judges to relax and enjoy it though its effects were different from the Sweet Scent that Brianna had used in her appeal. It would put them in a good mood and that was what Serena wanted because it was a mood her finale would shatter.

"Cut through it and get high with Acrobatics." Serena called out.

Vivillon hummed before it shot off at incredible speed right into the Aromatherapy cloud. Usually, the move so fast that it was hard to see and could cause problems in an appeal but with the cloud created by Aromatherapy it helped the move as the judges could follow the clear cuts through it to see the move as Vivillon showed off its speed and flying type as it got high above the stage and right in the center of the stage. It also helped to disperse the Aromatherapy so that Serena could use her next move.

"Excellent now cover the stage with Powder." Serena said. "Just as we practiced."

Vivillon hummed again as it beat its wings and spun slowly releasing an off green powder from its wings. The bug type move fell to the stage in a spiral, the indoor atmosphere not dispersing it that much which was perfect for the finale of Serena's appeal. This had been the hardest part and require research and teaching to get Vivillon to learn it, but it worked and that was all that mattered. It was also the ultimate reason why Serena had decided to go with Vivillon and not Sylveon as originally planned.

"Finish this with Sunny Day." Serena said. "Light them up Vivillon!"

Vivillon smiled as it opened its wings and suddenly a bright light appeared beneath it and right over the Powder. That was when the grand finale happened and shocked everyone as they weren't expecting it. Then again when the stage suddenly explodes in a swirling fireball right where the Powder had landed, and the light and fire all point up and bask Vivillon in it showing off its wings perfectly it can be a bit of a shock.

It did all this because of a quirk with how Powder worked that Serena didn't know about until after they looked up the move following Vivillon revealing that it knew the move. It was a bug type move it had known as a Scatterbug that didn't do anything normally making it pretty useless, but it covered the target in the move. It was a counter measure move that would explode if the opponent used a fire type move next and do damage while preventing the move form working. A good negation of a type that was super effective against bug types.

That was a great thing in a battle, one that made Serena really want a rematch with Misty though this time use Vivillon against her Vulpix so she could use it, but there was a limit to it as the other trainer had to be unaware of it as Powder didn't last long. The problem was that they had no idea how to use it in an appeal.

That was when Ash naturally had a suggestion, why not try and trigger it with a fire type move aimed at it and see what happened. His logic was that if the Powder was combustible then hitting it with a fire type move would set it off.

They had tested this with Braixen hitting a stream of Powder that Vivillon created with her Fire Blast. It blew up and that proved Ash's theory and led to the next stage, teaching Vivillon a fire type move. However, it could only learn one, Sunny Day which didn't actually create fire only made things brighter for a while and had some boosts and negations to other moves depending on type.

However, again Ash pointed out that it was just a fire type move that was needed so maybe it would be fine to trigger. There was no harm in trying so after a day of training they got Vivillon to learn the move, which would look good in an appeal regardless, so it was useful to have. They then tried it and to their surprise it worked. That was how they ended up here.

"Wow, that was unexpected." Jillian said her eyes wide, same with the judges, as the fire ended, and Serena curtsied to them while Vivillon bowed from its position above them. "That is one way to end an appeal for sure. Do the judges agree?"

"What a way to combine a move that requires a special trigger with an unorthodox trigger, but I guess the importance is the type and not the flames themselves." Robert said recovering from his shock. "I didn't expect that when I heard Powder but that is what I like to see in an appeal, the unexpected as it really shows a coordinator's ability to create unique appeals with her Pokémon."

"Yes, remarkable." Sukizo said with a nod.

"Vivillon looked great, and that finale really showed off its scales perfectly." Nurse Joy said with a smile. "I won't forget it anytime soon."

Serena just smiled and bowed again before returning Vivillon to its Poke Ball and leaving. She knew she'd done enough with that, that final conflagration was memorable and unique enough to advance her, especially because it fully showed off Vivillon's beauty. All she had to do was wait for the results to come in.

"That was some ending." Emily said as Serena reached her. "I think that was more than worthy of advancement. I've never seen a combination like that before."

"We shall see." Serena said. "I'm just glad we practiced that to get it right, it could have gone wrong and blown up in our face if I had tried it for a first time right then."

"How did you come up with that?" Emily asked. "I would never have thought about it."

"Ash was the one who realized what we could do with it." Serena said. "He's very good at coming up with strange, out of the box, ideas. I've only seen a few but both May and Misty have much more experience with Ash's unusual tactics."

"Huh, I'll have to see if Misty can impart some wisdom from him then." Emily said. "We are seeing them at the break, right?"

"Not this time." Serena said glancing at Brianna who was glaring at them across the room. "May doesn't want to run into Drew and Misty doesn't want to run into Kenny so they won't come to prevent that as they expect them to come and talk to Brianna. I think they'll explain it to Adam as well, so he stays away and avoids a fight."

"Yeah Adam would get into one to try and save them or stop them, whichever he felt necessary." Emily said with a sigh. "It's just who he is."

"They did say to invite you two to watch Ash's full battle with Kenny." Serena said. "I think Misty will want to talk to you afterwards and you might enjoy watching Ash put Kenny in his place."

"I think Adam will say yes instantly, it's totally what he's into and he'll want to watch Ash battle some more." Emily said. "And I'll go with him because it is fun to watch even if it's not really my thing."

Serena was about to respond when Jillian's voice interrupted them. They looked to the screen to see that the last appeal was done which meant that it was almost time for the announcement of who had advanced.

"With that the appeals are done." Jillian said as the judges went over tiebreakers or something behind her. "There will be a brief recess before the battles start so those who advance should use it wisely to prepare. Once we know who has made the cut they will be announced on the screen but congratulations to all our coordinators here today."

Jillian had just finished speaking when the screen changed to reveal 8 pictures of the 8 coordinators who had advanced. Instantly they saw Brianna's picture as it was the first one, but Serena was surprised to see hers right next to it. Emily's was in the second row but that wasn't a surprise. They had all advanced and now it was time for the bracket.

"Randomize that bracket." Jillian called as the pictures flipped over and shuffled themselves before falling to the bottom and a bracket appearing above them. "Let's see who's up first."

The pictures flipped and Serena was surprised to see that she was first up against another Kalos coordinator who had made the cut. However, the match right after hers was Brianna's meaning they'd face in the semifinals if both won their battles. Emily was in the last quarterfinal match, so she'd have to face them in the final if they got that far. It was certainly an interesting bracket.

"We will resume in 10 minutes so if our first coordinators would like to head to the wings soon we can start on time." Jillian said before the screen returned to the bracket and a timer began to count down until the start of the battle round.

"You'd better win." Brianna called out to them. "I want your ass in the semis Serena. Same goes for you Emily, you're mine in the final. I want all of Kalos to see me win my first ribbon here by going through both of you."

"Wouldn't have it any other way." Serena called back. "I'll show you how we do things in Kalos."

"Good luck." Emily whispered before Serena left. "Show her why we're better."

"I will." Serena said before she left hoping she felt as confident as she sounded as she made her way to her starting point.

It wasn't long before the break ended, and the battles began. Serena held her head high as she headed out of her wing and got into the zone that May had taught her to use for the battles so that she could focus on the round at hand and not anything else going on. It was how May had been able to ignore Harley's antics in the end and right now it was helpful for Serena.

Her first battle was surprisingly straight forward. She was up against a Kalos guy who clearly wanted to be a performer but for his male genitals preventing him from being one and had little battle experience. He was using an Audino so a good Pokémon for that. Unfortunately for him he was against Serena's Pancham and a fighting type always had the edge on a normal type in a battle. It took 3 minutes, but Serena won by Battle Off following a pair of successful Arm Thrust attacks.

Serena fortunately wasn't on the side that Brianna was on and hurried back to the waiting room to watch the battle with Emily. It would be their first impression of Brianna as a battler, so they needed to see what she was going to be like.

Brianna revealed her Pokémon to be a Trevenant, a terrifying Pokémon that looked like a haunted tree and was a dual ghost and grass type native to Kalos. It would have dominated had her opponent, a coordinator from Johto with two ribbons to her name from her home region so was going for the hybrid qualification approach, hadn't used a Houndour. It was a Pokémon with the perfect dual type to resist a Trevenant. However, that was all it could do, and Brianna easily won by points to advance to the semifinal.

After that Emily left and Serena pointedly ignored Brianna as she watched the third quarterfinal and then focused on Emily's as she tried to figure out what to do about Brianna in their battle. The girl was strong and would come at her which meant that she'd have to use Braixen or Rhyhorn but with Emily's type specialty causing Serena to strategize, she knew who was best for her to use against Brianna.

As she was planning what to do, Serena watch Emily and her Eevee easily beat a coordinator from Sinnoh who was using a Drifblim that heavily relied on ineffective ghost type moves. When Emily revealed her Eevee knew Bite it was over, and she won by Battle Off with just under a minute remaining.

Not looking at Brianna, Serena left to take her starting spot, congratulating Emily as they passed and getting back into her the zone for the semifinal. It was time to make May proud, beat someone threatening her friends and have a big upset to her record going forward.

"Well, here is the first semifinal and what a semifinal it is." Jillian called out as Serena and Brianna walked out and took their spots. "The top favorite on the circuit this year and the girl with Kalos behind here meeting for what should be the first of many matchups this year. It's the Flower of Kanto verses the Kalos Princess, give it up for Brianna and Serena."

"Yes this will be the first of the many wins I will have over you because I never intend on losing to you Serena." Brianna said pulling out her Poke Ball. "Get ready, I'm going to begin my avenging of Drew today."

"And I will show you that I am no pushover Brianna." Serena said pulling out her own Poke Ball. "And I will defend May's honor as hard as I would defend mine. Do your worst because I sure will."

"I intend to." Brianna sneered.

"Ladies, begin!" Jillian called out ignoring the trash talk to start the first semifinal.

"Roselia, steal the stage." Brianna said throwing her ball.

"Rhyhorn, let's go." Serena said at the same time.

"Not what I was expecting from you, but this will be perfect." Brianna said almost cackling at the matchup as the Pokémon appeared. "This battle is mine already."

"Type alone won't win as you proved last round." Serena said. "Rock Blast, hit that Roselia and take her points Rhyhorn."

"A Battle Off against you will be fitting." Brianna replied as Rhyhorn formed the first boulder. "Dodge and use Petal Blizzard. Let's see a rock and ground type handle a grass type move shall we."

Serena could only watch in shocked amazement as Roselia practically danced out of the was of each boulder thrown at it, twirling, and singing the entire time as points ticked of Serena's bar. It was almost hypnotic as the 3 boulders that Rhyhorn had fired missed their marks. As the third missed Roselia countered with a maelstrom of petals that she'd been building during the attack and hurled them across the stage at Rhyhorn.

The grass type attack filled the stage and slammed into Rhyhorn before it could move. It wailed in pain from the super effective attack and Serena grit her teeth at the sight. This was going to be tough for her, but she wasn't going to give up just yet.

"Rhyhorn, push through it and use Take Down." Serena called out. "I know that you can do it."

Rhyhorn snorted and charged through the petals. He was with Serena because he didn't want to be ridden like the others back home, he wanted to fight and get stronger through battling. This was just the battle he was looking forward to. A challenge against a Pokémon with a type advantage. He was going to stomp all over this pesky flower.

Both Roselia and Brianna were stunned by the speed of Rhyhorn as it barreled down through the damaging Petal Blizzard, and into Roselia at full speed before the move ended. Roselia wailed in pain as it was thrown high into the air by the speeding Rhyhorn, and Serena pressed her sudden advantage. Her Rhyhorn may not like racing but it was trained in that by one of the best Rhyhorn racers in Kalos so it had a level of mobility and speed few of its kind could match.

"Thunder!" Serena yelled.

"Shadow Ball." Brianna countered.

Rhyhorn turned on a dime, skidding slightly as he did but his early training for racing paying off as he changed direction faster then expected. He then opened his mouth and sent out the powerful electric type attack right at the still airborne Roselia.

The attack was on point and slammed into Roselia frying it in mid air and causing it to yell. Serena grinned at the landing but unfortunately she'd missed the counter that Brianna had ordered. Roselia had known that she'd likely take the hit, so she had instead focused on where Rhyhorn was and fired off a Shadow Ball that flew underneath the Thunder, obscured by the flash of electricity. If she was going to get hit then she was going to make sure she repaid the hit in kind.

It was on target and as a charred but not badly damaged Roselia fall to the ground, the ghost type attack hit Rhyhorn full in the face and staggered him slightly. It was a small opening, but Brianna saw her chance and took it. She wasn't an experienced coordinator for nothing.

"Giga Drain." Brianna said. "Let's see it survive that."

"Counter with Drill Run." Serena said but it wasn't in time.

Roselia had aimed her Shadow Ball just right to temporarily blind Rhyhorn and stagger him. Add in that the attack had landed after Rhyhorn's and the window was just large enough for her to pull it off. Roselia didn't even get up, she just aimed her bouquet hands at Rhyhorn and sent out the powerful, energy draining grass type move.

Rhyhorn had just recovered when it hit him. The move was super effective and drained all of Rhyhorn's remaining energy back to Roselia. Had he not taken the Shadow Ball he might have survived and been able to counter, though the Petal Blizzard had taken a lot out of him, but two strong grass type moves, and a regular ghost type move were way too much for Rhyhorn at his current level.

As Roselia filled herself with his energy, healing her almost completely and raising to her feet, Rhyhorn just groaned and fell to the side with swirls for eyes but not before he swore to get stronger for Serena. That was enough for the Xs of a Battle Off to appear.

"And Brianna wins by battle off to advance to the final." Jillian announced. "And with only half the allotted time needed but then again that's what happens when a rock and ground type takes two strong grass type moves that are super effective against both of its types."

"Rhyhorn, return." Serena said dejected and looked at the ball. "I am sorry my friend, that battle was tougher than expected and we were at a disadvantage against a stronger opponent with a major type advantage over us. It was an uphill battle from the start, but you did amazing. We have a lot to practice to get stronger but with the way Brianna was treating us we have that motivation to do so."

Serena just collapsed the ball and nodded to Brianna who was smirking at her before she turned and left the stage. In a Contest, only the finalists shook hands, there was just too much to get through in one day to have anyone else do it. Hopefully, Emily could do it.

"Beat her." Serena said to Emily as she passed the girl waiting for her own semifinal in the wings. "She's good but if anyone here can match her it's you."

"It will be my pleasure." Emily said. "You did well Serena, that was a tough battle given the types so don't feel down about it."

"Yes it was, and I will get better." Serena said with conviction in her voice. "Now go out and win all this Emily. I'll be in the stands supporting you."

Emily just nodded at her before Serena left. She was upset for sure, but she knew going into that battle that the experience gap was not on her side. She did get a sense for Brianna's skills and with Ash, Misty, and May she would get a full debrief on her abilities and how to improve for their next match. This was just the first battle, Serena may have lost it, but she was going to win this war that Brianna and her cohort had started.

All that was on Serena's mind as she entered the stands and found her friends waiting for her in their little section. Emily's friend Adam was with them, but he was furiously making notes in a notebook and watching Emily's ongoing battle to look up and say anything. Misty was also focused on it so it was May who spoke to her as it should be.

"Sorry about that Serena." May said kindly as Serena sat next to her friend and mentor. "That was more lopsided then I expected."

"The types weren't on my side; we need to work on that." Serena said. "Rhyhorn has Thunder that is good against water types but we need something to counter grass types as well as they are just as bad. It just means more training. I won't let this loss get me down. I am sorry for letting you down through May, I couldn't beat Brianna."

"You did nothing of the sort." May said shaking her head. "You acquitted yourself well against an opponent who has reached a Grand Festival final in what was only your 5th official Contest battle, I didn't expect you to win this one. Unlike Ash, who can make up for a lack of Contest experience with his battle experience, you still need more practice so don't worry about it. All I wanted you to do well and show Brianna that you aren't a pushover. You did that Serena and that's what matters."

"Thank you." Serena said not realizing she was about to cry at her loss until May's supporting words cheered her up. "That means a lot May."

"I've been there with a negative rival in Harley." May said. "He beat me twice, but I beat him more times. We were even when we met so it was a little different, but he was a manipulative ass from the start. You know where you need to improve, and we will work on it. When we next see her, it will be better."

"I know it will be." Serena said. "I have all of you to help me, I will be a lot better when I next see Brianna."

"Just remember to not dejected because you lost to a better opponent." May said. "That was what it was like for me against Drew at the beginning, you know before everything that happened. I lost to him many times before finally beating him and from then on I was at his level and he couldn't handle it. That is what you will do with Brianna and it will feel great when you finally beat her. Plus, they want a reaction out of you, don't give them it."

"You're right." Serena said rubbing her eyes and taking May's words to heart though she could hear how hard it was for her to speak of Drew in her tone. "I won't let them see that they got to me. I will train harder with you, Misty and Ash and show them that I have a higher ceiling than Brianna."

"That's the spirit." May said as a bell went off drawing their attention to the battlefield. "But let's see if Emily is going on to the final."

Serena nodded as she turned to look at the battlefield. It showed Emily's Whimsicott looking battered but determined against a Kalos trainer's Skelp that looked worse. It took a moment of recalling types at play for Serena to realize that they were counterbalanced with strengths and weakness against each other which was likely the only reason why the rookie had lasted until the end. One glance at the points showed the truth. Emily had advanced.

Serena watched as the Kanto girl recalled her Pokémon and bowed respectfully to her opponent who returned it before he left while she remained waiting for the final to start. A moment later Brianna walked out to the cheering crowd looking confident as she took her spot and Serena strained to hear the impending trash talk that she knew was coming.

"As you saw, I easily handled Serena, you're next." Brianna said with a grin. "And I'll beat you in a way that makes it indisputable who is better."

"Come at me with all you got." Emily replied pulling out a Poke Ball. "I have just the Pokémon to put you in your place. I'm not some rookie you can bully and claim a victory despite clearly being more experienced."

"In your mind maybe." Brianna said withdrawing her own Poke Ball. "I am going to use my best on you, and you will see why I am better when you lose to it. You may be more experienced, but you still have nothing on me, that and Drew's training is why I will win."

"According to you that is." Emily said. "I am using my best as well."

"Ladies, cool it, save it for the battle." Jillian teased interrupting them with ease thanks to the microphone. "This is just the rivalry we want to see from two of the favorites this year. Folks, it is time for the final of the Geosenge Contest and what a final it is going to be. We have two of the most experienced and decorated coordinators on the circuit this year facing off against each other and what's more it is an all-Kanto final for the first time this year. From Chrysanthemum Island it is the Flower of Kanto, Brianna."

The crowd cheered as Jillian gestured to Brianna though Serena and her friends didn't join in with it but simple sat there in silence. As the cheers died down Jillian swept her arm to the other side.

"And from Mt. Moon, it's is the Charming Fairy, Emily." Jillian said to the cheers that were roughly equal to Brianna's and which Serena joined in on. "Begin!"

"Clefable, fairy lights." Emily said throwing out her Poke Ball.

"Flygon, steal the stage." Brianna said causing gasps.

"A dragon type." Adam said from near them followed by the sound of furious scribbling, so Serena knew he'd have plenty of notes for Emily to use after the battle. "That is a bold strategy against Emily. She's a known fairy specialist."

"And dragon type moves don't work on them." Ash added. "I wonder what's she playing at."

"She's making her claim to the top favorite right here and now." May said causing all eyes to turn to her. "Think on it. Brianna may have the best record but that doesn't mean anything if she can't back it up with actions against a coordinator you've never faced before. Emily is close to her level. She has a Grand Festival semifinal appearance as a rookie and beat a favorite in Nando along the way. That means that if Brianna can beat her with a dragon type, the type worst against fairy types, then she's shown her level of skill."

"May's right." Misty said. "This is tough but if Brianna is as good as advertised this will be interesting so let's watch and see what she does."

The others nodded as the battle below them began to unfold. There was a lot on the line in this battle, they all knew it, and whoever won would likely become the main favorite that year, pending how they did against Jessilina that is.

"Flygon, start us off with Dragon Breath." Brianna said causing even more gasps at the choice of move.

"Clefable, stay there." Emily said and Serena saw her grin at that, she would as well if she knew she was facing a move her Pokémon was immune to. "That won't affect you and get ready to Sing."

"Only a fool would think I don't have a strategy." Brianna said as Flygon expelled the dragon type attack from its mouth. "Flygon, as we practiced. Steel Wing!"

"Oh, that's clever." Ash said causing the others to look at him. "I will actually have to keep this in mind for when I face a fairy type with a dragon type."

"What do you mean?" Serena asked confused.

"Just watch." Ash said. "This is something I'd do in a battle but not right away, I'd come up with it during the battle to win it."

That didn't bode well for Emily. If this was something that Ash would do then it wasn't good for the girl to face. Ash's strategies tended to take disadvantages and turn them into advantages. That was the case now as well.

The Dragon Breath slammed into Clefable and exploded in a cloud of smoke on contact but Clefable didn't move. Brianna lost points for using an ineffective attack, but she clearly didn't mind. The smoke had two things going for it. It obscured Clefable's vision and filled her mouth causing her to cough and be unable to use Sing. Clearly that was all part of Brianna's plan as Flygon dove, its wings glowing with steel type power, as it flew into the cloud.

There was an audible collision and a wail of pain before Clefable was blasted back and out of the cloud looking a lot worse for wear thanks to the super effective attack. She slammed into the ground and tumbled several feet before coming to a stop near a shocked Emily. At the same time Flygon flew up and arced backwards to hover high and above the battlefield.

"Dragon type moves may not work on fairy types, but steel type moves are super effective against them." Brianna said with a grin as a lot of points were lost from Emily putting Brianna in the lead. "Are you really that foolish to think that I wouldn't have a way to counter that immunity with a dragon type. Do you take me for a rookie?"

"No, I didn't but I did expect it to be infatuated." Emily said as Clefable got to her feet. "That usually happens when a physical attack lands against her."

"Unlike Serena who isn't a challenge to me, you actually are so I did my research on you, your type preference, and the Pokémon you are known to have." Brianna said. "I know that your Clefable has the Cute Charm ability, that is well documented from your use of it last year, and that most Clefables are female. My Flygon is a girl so I had a good chance of not triggering it."

"Well, that explains a lot." Emily said but Serena saw that she was grinning. "You've done well and forced my hand as I would expect from someone like you Brianna but my Clefable is more than a cute Pokémon. She's my ultimate dragon counter. Ice Beam."

"Dodge and counter with Fire Blast." Brianna said.

Unfortunately for her it appeared that Emily had been using the talk as a distraction as Clefable was already ready to go as soon as the order came in. She sent out the blast of ice from her mouth as Brianna was speaking and the super effective attack, against both of Flygon's types, slammed into her and brought her down to the ground with a wail of pain. Serena smiled; Emily had Brianna where she wanted her.

"Sing." Emily said as Flygon struggled to get up after the hit given how much damage it had done.

"You know what to do." Brianna said. "We aren't out of this yet and I just gave you an order."

Flygon just nodded and opened her mouth as Clefable began to sing. Again, Brianna surprised them all by not going with the logical approach, dodging in this case, and sent out the five-pointed star of fire at the singing Fairy Pokémon. The area nature of Sing ensured that a few notes were missed by the fire and hit Flygon putting it to sleep but that didn't stop the fire type attack from slamming home.

As Flygon began to snore, the fire engulfed Clefable and she screamed in pain from the move. When the move ended Clefable was on the floor, blacked and hurt but she was still in it. Slowly, she got to her feet and Serena had hope for the battle.

"That's it Clefable." Emily said. "Wake Up Slap."

"Clefable." Clefable grunted as she began to walk, limping slightly, towards Flygon clearly pissed off and ready to slap Flygon.

"Come on Flygon, wake up." Brianna said but it was to no avail, Flygon was out of it.

Clefable grinned savagely as she leapt up onto the snoring Flygon's chest and raised her right hand. She infused it with fighting type power and then, using all her strength, she slapped Flygon across the face as hard as she could. The nature of the attack woke Flygon up and inflicted twice the usual damage. However, the fully evolved Pokémon was not out of it yet.

"Steel Wing." Brianna said. "Smack it off you."

"It's still not down." Emily gasped as Flygon's wings glowed with steel type power.

Before anyone could react, Flygon slapped up with her wings and it slammed into Clefable who was still on her chest. Clefable wailed in pain as the super effective attack launched her into the air and sent her arching back to land with an explosion of dust on Emily's side.

There was still a minute left, and the points were hard to tell who was in the lead as neither hand many left. One thing that would tell was what happened when the dust cleared. As it did the crowd gasped as they saw Clefable still conscious and on one knee. Slowly she stood up but was clearly on her last legs. As she stood, Flygon was also getting up to hover in front of Brianna just as badly damaged.

"Damn that Clefable is tough." Serena said. "I wouldn't expect that."

"Emily's Clefable is her starter and deceptively resilient." Misty said. "When I faced it in the Chrysanthemum Town final it took a lot to bring it down and it even held its own briefly against Mamoswine and Espeon. She even survived an Earthquake after taking damage from other attacks. It's one tough bitch who will take it and give it back with interest."

"Clearly but this is the end." May said. "They're going to go all out one more time and whoever can break the other's power will win it."

"Then let's watch and see what happens." Serena said and the others nodded.

"You didn't disappoint Emily, but this is over." Brianna said. "You can't win this battle."

"Neither can you Brianna." Emily said. "We both have one attack left and we aren't going to hold back."

"No, we won't." Brianna said with a grin. "Hyper Beam."

"Ice Beam." Emily said.

The crowd as on the edges of their seats as the final came down to this moment. Flygon sent out the powerful, orange, normal type attack at the same time that Clefable sent out the ice type attack. The moves shot at full speed across the battlefield and slammed into each other at the midpoint of the battlefield.

Rather than explode, they connected and warred against each other as the Pokémon gave their all trying to break the other's power with their own. In the end one had to give, and Serena saw it happen. Hyper Beam wasn't solid in the normal sense, not like Ice Beam was, and Serena saw the cracks in the ice just before it shattered in and explosion that sent cold air and shards of ice into the crowd. No one cared though as the orange light shot forward and slammed into Clefable without resistance.

The result was as expected. Clefable didn't make a sound as she was out the moment it hit. Instead, she was blasted back at full speed and right past Emily before the girl could react to what had happened. Clefable then slammed into the wall that kept the battlefield below the stands with a colossal boom that sent dust high into the air just as the bell sounded to end the battle. There was no doubt after that landing a hit like that who had won but everyone was fixed on the spot where Clefable was.

Slowly, the dust settled and revealed the fully evolved fairy type wedged a good few inches in the wall, deep enough to not fall out of the crater she had formed in it. She just hung there limply, her eyes swirls. It wasn't necessary but it was a formality as the hit had come before the timer ended so the Xs for a Battle Off sounded.

"What a way to end the final." Jillian said as everyone recovered from what had just happened. "For those wondering why the Xs are up and the time at zero, the Battle Off has to be recorded as it occurred before the end of the time limit and that is how this match was won. The winner of the Geosenge Contest is Brianna."

The screen turned to show am image of Brianna with the 4 Pokémon she had used to win and the ribbon. The Geosenge ribbon was a light brown in the same style as the Odyssey Village one with no borders, just a single color that was associated with the area. The only thing different was the gold seal in the center being the crest of the town.

Serena watched as Emily recalled Clefable and thanked her before she turned and walked out to the center of the battlefield. Brianna had already recalled and thanked Flygon for the win and did the same though she clearly didn't want to. Emily was the one showing greater sportsmanship and in the setting Brianna couldn't avoid it. They met and shook hands not saying anything before Emily turned and left.

"I'm going to make sure Emily is alright after that and give her feedback on her performance, as well as what I learned about Brianna." Adam said getting up. "We will come and watch the full battle when it happens."

"We'll let you know." Ash said as Adam left. "And we should go as well. We have to prepare for that."

"Agreed." May said. "And I don't want to watch anymore. Brianna has shown her ability and we all know what needs to be done."

Serena just nodded as they all got up and left while Brianna was celebrating her first Kalos ribbon. Drew and his lot had laid down the gauntlet and won the first battle. However, this was a war that wouldn't end until the Grand Festival was over, and they had another battle the next day between Ash and Kenny.

It was far from over and next time they would win. It was time to prepare for the battle that had been a long time coming. Tomorrow, Ash finally got the chance to put Kenny in his place, he wasn't going to waste this opportunity. It was time to finally face his rival in their long-awaited battle.