Part CLXXIX: Dazzling All of Kalos
"Alright folks, it is time!" Jillian said as she took center stage on the battlefield of Lumiose Stadium, altered slightly to fit with a Contest appeals stage for the Grand Festival. "After a lot of hard work, a year of promotion and finally a full season of Contests, the first ever Kalos Grand Festival is finally upon us!"
The stadium erupted in cheers but for Serena and the others they were just nervously waiting backstage for the appeals to begin as they watched the TV with Jillian on it. They were in the waiting room that had been used for the Wildcard two days before as they waited for the introduction to end so that the Grand Festival could begin.
As with the Wallace Cup, they were in a small group together to watch and support each other through the day as they all aimed for the top 16 spots that would see them advance to the battle stage. With Serena was Shauna, Miette, Khoury, Tierno, and Emily as they were all friends so stuck together for the Grand Festival.
Thankfully Brianna wasn't there to annoy them. She was actually the first one up in the order that had been randomly generated the day before during the break between the Wildcard and the Grand Festival. It had gone up after they had all registered their Pokémon for the appeals though they didn't have to reveal which they'd use first and which would be second. As such Brianna was already in the wings awaiting the start of the Grand Festival.
The only other person Serena knew who was present was Jessilina, and that was more by reputation than interaction as they'd only really had one this year back in the Coumarine Contest. Jessilina was the second ranked coordinator behind Brianna in the Big 3 though that was more due to her experience having debuted several years ago in Sinnoh the same year as Misty did thus ranking her above Emily due to her experience being longer than Emily's. That and she'd once beaten Misty making her the only coordinator to beat a future Top Coordinator.
Jessilina had more than earned her spot with one of the better records on the circuit though she had yet to face Brianna in a Contest battle apparently. Her appeal was the one right after Serena's so Serena would likely miss it, but she'd still see the score afterwards, but it was expected to be a good one.
Despite being a favorite Jessilina wasn't associating with anyone and just sitting on a bench off to one side. That was because she was known for her homely, more mature, personality and as such didn't interact with other coordinators who tended to be younger than her. She preferred to focus on the fans and promoting her own brand and image to Kalos.
That meant that of the serious challengers for the Ribbon Cup she had the most public support as she was the most well-known and liked of the three, which given Emily's shyness and Brianna's horrible personality wasn't too hard, and had inadvertently done a lot to help promote Contests on her own than anyone else on the circuit that year. As such they opted to leave her along. That said, Serena did note that the woman was the only one present wearing something new.
Serena, Shauna, and Miette were all wearing their Master Class outfits from the year before as a way to pay homage to their profession and region's unique event while also showing how similar they were. It was the right thing to do for the first Master Class and the girls would wear the outfits throughout the Grand Festival for that reason.
As for Emily, well the younger brunette from Kanto apparently only owned one formal dress she'd gotten from a friend back in Kanto that she'd worn all year with the exception of the Laverre Contest where she wore a dress made by Valerie specially for the Contest. She was also apparently still uncomfortable competing so well dressed but that was likely due to how only Sinnoh Contests traditionally featured formal attire with the exception of the Johto Grand Festival.
At least that had been the case until the expansion happened when Kalos too adopted the formal attire and went a step further than in Sinnoh and actually mandated it for all Contests which Serena didn't mind at all. It was a Kalos thing to dress up, so it was to be expected. Even the boys were dressed well for the Grand Festival though both of them were wearing the same as they wore in the Wallace Cup but that was to be expect from them.
Jessilina by contrast was not wearing her usual orange and white dress but a fancier, and somehow even homelier, dress that really played to her aesthetic. The woman wore a large, pink, dress with poofy upper sleeves from the shoulder to elbow before it melded into normal sleeves that extended down to her wrists.
The large shirt part of the dress came down to her ankles with no ruffles and a white overtop thing on the upper part of the skirt. To complete it, the center of the dress was white with yellow straps over her chest and an orange bowtie at her throat with a yellow ascot under it. she finished it with a massive yellow bow on her lower back. The only slightly off thing was that she still wore her usual brown boots that seemed a little informal but overall worked with the image.
As always, Jessilina was one of the few coordinators in Kalos who didn't wear gloves with her attire but showed off her well-manicured nails and delicate hands. Only Miette of the notable female coordinators joined her in this fashion statement which was atypical for someone from Kalos though so stood out more than Jessilina who wasn't from Kalos. To complete her look, Jessilina had done her magenta hair in a set of pigtails that accentuated her look and tied with yellow ribbons though Serena had a feeling that that was her normal hairstyle.
What Serena and the others were unaware of, though Misty would tell them afterwards about it, was that Jessilina's outfit was the same one she'd worn for the Sinnoh Grand Festival were she was a top 4 finisher, losing in the semifinals to Misty. It was that Grand Festival that made her a legit threat to hoist the Kalos Ribbon Cup but all of them were going for it and now was the moment they'd finally see it.
"And this is what they are all going for." Jillian said as she held her arm out to the side and a hole opened up on the stage and a plinth rose from it. "The Kalos Ribbon Cup and the title of Top Coordinator that comes with it."
Serena and the others gasped at the reveal of the Kalos Ribbon Cup, a secret that had been guarded even from the Top Coordinators helping on the circuit this year, as it was finally revealed to the 50 coordinators vying for it. All regions varied their ribbon cups, though the Sinnoh and Hoenn ones were very similar but for the handles and jewel, so naturally the Kalos one was different as well and it was very fitting for Kalos.
The Kalos Ribbon Cup was a long, narrow, cup with a small base and graceful handles on either side that looped up to the open rim and an elegant swirl patter to the body of it. In the center of the cup was an engraving of a Kalos Ribbon in it's unique design and three jewels, dark green, blood red, and crystal clear, were set into the rim of it in strategic places while tassels hung from the handles. It was a graceful and beautiful cup that really fit the Kalos aesthetic nicely and like all the other ribbon cups it was gold in color.
That was what they were all gunning for and seeing it raised Serena's competitive spirit. She was going to do everything she could to raise it the way Misty and May had done so in years past in Kanto and Sinnoh respectively. In fact, Serena had witnessed Misty raise her Ribbon Cup the year before and was still moved by the tears of joy her friend had had as she held it after so much effort to reach that point. Now it was Serena's turn to try and do so and she'd start with her appeals that were just about to begin.
"To get this our 50 coordinators must first perform two appeals and be ranked in the top 16 at the end of the day to advance to the battles that will begin tomorrow." Jillian said as the cup sank back into the stage to be locked and guarded until the winner was declared. "The battles, the only double Contest battles of the year, will run for three days but for now we begin the appeals and to judge them we have our trio of fantastic judges. Give it up for Mr. Contests, the head of the Kalos Contest Committee, Sukizo, the president of the Pokémon Fan Club, and Lumiose City's own Nurse Joy!"
The camera panned to the judges and focused on each one as they nodded when they were introduced by Jillian while the crowd cheered for them. With only 50 in the Grand Festival there was only need for the traditional 3 to judge them and it seemed fitting to Serena that they would be the judges for the first Kalos Grand Festival.
"Our illustrious judges will assess each coordinator and score their appeals out of 100, both of them so that each coordinator has a final score of 200." Jillian continued as the camera panned back to her. "The first appeal will be a two-move appeal while the second is a four move one that has to be with a different Pokémon, and we will break for lunch between the two appeals. To keep things smooth, we will only have feedback after both appeals are done from our judges as there is a lot to get through today. That is all I need to say so let's start the inaugural Kalos Grand Festival!"
This got a roar from the crowd as Jillian moved to introduce the first coordinator while Serena and her friends set themselves for their own ones. With Brianna going first it, they would see the bar being set that they would all have to try and match, or in most of their cases at least come close to, to advance. Serena was ready, bring on the Grand Festival.
"We couldn't ask for a better start to the Grand Festival, the fates must be smiling upon us for it, because the favorite herself is going to the first coordinator to go." Jillian said as Brianna set herself in the wings, Poke Ball already in her hand, and grinning as she was about to show the losers below her how it was done. "She's only lost twice this year giving her the best record of any coordinator in the Grand Festival and to top it off she's also the only coordinator with multiple Grand Festival appearances before today with three over the last three years, including making the finals last year in Johto. So, making her 4th Grand Festival appearance, give it up for the Flower of Kanto herself, from Chrysanthemum Town, it's Brianna!"
Brianna walked out still smiling but the smile wasn't for the crowd that gave her a cheer though not as loud as she deserved, not that she expected it to be loud as they didn't understand that she was the hero her, it was because she was about to win it all. The only support she cared about was Drew's, the uneducated masses who didn't understand his brilliance and that he was the hero of the Contest world weren't worth her time.
As such, she was honoring her love with her outfit as she wore a flowing purple dress that fell to just below her knees with a slightly flared skirt part, green belt with a blood red rose as it's buckles and matching green shoes with red roses on the tops of them. She accessorized with green gloves that came to just past her wrists and a red and blue rose on either side of her hair to honor the Pokémon that Drew was famous for and which she was about to use. All this was to pay homage to the greatest coordinator and truest hero in the world, her darling Drew.
Brianna was going to win this and raise that Ribbon Cup for him, and she was going to do it by beating bitches like Serena who were tied to the great evil that was May thus making them evil as well. The only thing that she couldn't do was call out the evil when she faced it in the battles or even confront it the way a hero should in the waiting room because they'd just lie about it and tell the Committee to trigger that warning she shouldn't have received for just doing what was right. That was just the kinda of evil she would expect talentless hacks who followed a betrayer would do.
As such, Brianna was stuck just showing what she could do as she reached the starting point and set herself. She had two moves to record a high score to remind everyone that she was the favorite for a reason, she was going to advance with the top appeal scores and really make her mark on Kalos as she showed off Drew's superior teachings for all to see.
"Roserade, steal the show." Brianna said as she tossed out her Poke Ball. "Start us off with Shadow Ball, aim it high."
Brianna's Roserade, who she'd evolved with a Shiny Stone that Drew had lovingly given her in the wake of her slightly delayed 5th ribbon due that villain Ketchum cheating in the Wallace Cup, burst forth with a song of her name as it spun gracefully in the air before landing before Brianna. Then, as soon as she was set, the Bouquet Pokémon opened her mouth and shot out a large, powerful, Shadow Ball high above her.
"Now, hit it with Venoshock." Brianna said raising her hand to emphasize her point. "And dance in the aftermath my dear, show why you are the Pokémon the greatest coordinator who ever lived uses as his main Contest partner."
"Roserade." Roserade sang as she looked up at the Shadow Ball and then unleashed her Venoshock.
The gout of poison shot from her mouth and up at the Shadow Ball. It took great skill and timing to pull this off but thanks to Drew's teachings Brianna knew that she was going to do so with ease as the purple poison rose faster than the Shadow Ball and then struck it right as it reached its apex so that it never fell to the stage exactly as Brianna had planned.
The moment that happened the two moves exploded in a shower of dark purple sparks that slowly vanished and lighter purple drops of poison that created an impromptu rain that was highlighted by the remnants of the Shadow Ball. As the poison rained down, Roserade bounded forward and began to dance around, singing her name and swaying her bouquet hands as she avoided all drops with an easy grace that only Brianna could produce in a Pokémon, according to her that is, while the poison splashed around her highlighting her in the process.
Like before, this was all timed to perfection, Brianna would never openly admit it because it tainted her to do so but she'd studied the freestyles of top-level performers to understand their concept of timing and performance. This was done to improve her appeals even more and to prepare to battle someone who used that blasphemous style that was an affront to the beauty of Contest battles like the villain Serena.
As such, Roserade was able to replicate it but with a coordinator's flare and poise so that she reached the center of the stage and was facing the judges as the last of the poison rain hit the ground. She then smoothly transitioned into a curtsy to show that the appeal was over.
At the same time Brianna offered her own curtsy, she'd taken some lessons in Kalos etiquette to master it and showed off that she could honor the backward region she was about to conquer in the Grand Festival. Thanks to no feedback, she was able to get her score by the time she rose and while she grinned at the 96 that appeared on the board though her eyebrow twitched slightly at it because it wasn't as high as Shauna's 97 to end her Wildcard appeals so not the highest of the festival so far.
Still, it was a good bar to set that the others wouldn't reach so Brianna just curtsied again before recalling Roserade and leaving the stage as Jillian rightfully heaped praise on her and how she'd really set the standard for the Grand Festival. Of course, Brianna would do that, she was Drew's protégé, she was going to win this all and show them how amazing he was while also correcting the heinous wrong May had done to him in the process, and she'd started strong.
Now all she had to do was make it back to the waiting room and watch the villains who posed as heroes fail to match her strong start. Things had started well in her 4th and what she was certain would be her final Grand Festival.
The first of their little group that was up in the Grand Festival was Miette who was the 8th coordinator to go, and it was almost her turn as she waited in the wings while the coordinator before her performed his appeal. They'd all watched the bar set by Brianna and the talent since then with only one coming even slightly close when the 4th coordinator scored a 91 by the while the rest were in the mid to low 80s.
All of that had really gotten Miette's competitive juices flowing as she prepared for her appeal. She knew that she'd have to do well, she wasn't the best in their group at appeals, so she was going all out in it with a new Pokémon and one of her oldest to set her mark. She was confident that she could make the battles and there Miette would finally decide things with Serena as she fully expected her friend and rival to make the battles as well.
As always she and Serena had had their usual banter in the waiting room but there wasn't much chat before the Grand Festival as they were all nervous for it but that would change after the first-round appeals and Miette was going to set that standard for her friends. She was ready for this though and her mind was clear as the coordinator before her finished his appeal.
"And another solid appeal in the Grand Festival." Jillian said as Miette saw a score of 83 appear which was roughly middle of the trailing pack behind Brianna and something that Miette felt certain that she could beat. "Next up we have the first of several performers turned coordinator this year who have helped show us that Kalos has its own style that it brings to Contests that comes from their Showcase history. She's one of three who competed in the Master Class final last year, all of whom are in the Grand Festival this year, and the only one of the three to get 5 ribbons for an outright qualification. So, give a cheer for a home region girl, it's the Bluebell of Kalos, Miette!"
Miette smiled and waved to the crowd as she walked out of the wings, the guy before her had long passed her during Jillian's hype up of her. She had a genuine and charming smile on her face as she walked.
She'd earned her nickname in the last Contest she'd won, a big one for her as it was a victory over Serena, and as Miette was wearing her signature blue thanks to her Master Class outfit being blue, it was a fitting one for her. Now she'd show that she was one of the best that Kalos had to offer as she reached the starting point and set herself.
"Jigglypuff, time to perform." Miette said not realizing the effect having this specific Pokémon, even if it wasn't the specific Jigglypuff that still gave Ash, Dawn, Brock, and Pikachu nightmares, had on her crush. "Start us off with Sing."
"Jigglypuff." Jigglypuff said happily as he opened his mouth and unleashed his song before he'd even landed on the stage.
As with all Jigglypuffs, it was loud, clear, and mesmerizing as Jigglypuff sang out his song for all to hear even after he landed on the ground. Sound based moves were where he excelled, and Miette was going to show off her Pokémon with it.
She'd planned on using him in the Wallace Cup against someone like Serena or Shauna to throw them with this style but didn't make it past Amelia and when she faced Serena again she had improved her battling to the point that she wanted to win the battle with Slurpuff. Now she was showing off Jigglypuff's voice in her first appeal in the Grand Festival and the Sing was just the start of it.
"Now disperse it while adding to it with Hyper Voice." Miette ordered. "Show all the vocal range of Jigglypuffs!"
Jigglypuff nodded as he finished his song before and then looked up at the notes, opened his mouth and let loose an echoing shout that was Hyper Voice. The blast of sound rose up and slammed into the notes for all to hear but rather than clash, the Hyper Voice sent the notes of Sing flying for all to hear in a new, different, but still clear song. There was a slight resonance to it thanks to the echo but that was it and in moments the move was over and Jigglypuff turned to face the judges having not moved since bursting forth from his Poke Ball.
All Jigglypuff could do was bob while Miette gave a proper curtsy and lowered her head to the judges, but it showed that the appeal was over, and it was time for them to give her a score for it. As she rose she looked up to the scoreboard and smiled at the 89 that appeared there. It was the third highest of the day and really set her up in a good position going into the second appeal she felt. With another, shorter and shallower, curtsy at the score, Miette recalled Jigglypuff before turning and leaving as Jillian was speaking.
She'd gotten a solid score, just what she wanted to boost her confidence with a four-move appeal still to come and she'd set a good standard for their group to follow. It was time to return to them and support the others as they went with Tierno the next of their lot to go at 13th as the Grand Festival continued on.
Tierno stood in the wings waiting for his go as he thought on his appeal. As with Miette, he was about to debut a Pokémon at the Grand Festival, but he was certain that it would do well as it was perfect for an appeal and really show his style off in the process. He had to make a good appeal to show off for Serena and advance so that he could impress her even more, and get some experience from the battles in the process.
So far things hadn't changed much since Miette had gone as all the scores after her were below what she got so the order at the top was still set at what it had been. Tierno planned on changing that as the coordinator before him finished her appeal, one that did upset the order Tierno noted, and now it was his turn.
"Yet another strong appeal and one from one of our wildcards no less." Jillian said and Tierno had to agree as the coordinator had scored a 90 which was impressive, and she was clearly pleased to be currently in third as she headed back. "Let's see how our next coordinator stacks up and he's a special one because he's the only coordinator in the Grand Festival who's primarily a trainer and is going for a second attempt at the Lumiose Conference after the Grand Festival. He was a quarterfinalist in the last one and turned to Contests for training but showed such talent that he ended up with 5 ribbons as one of the best Kalos natives around. It's the Dancer of Santalune, give it up for Tierno!"
Tierno walked out of the wings and did some dance moves for the cheering crowd which was giving him arguably the loudest cheer so far likely because he was a Kalos native, and his dance moves always got the crowd going more than other natives on the circuit this year. Now he was about to use a Pokémon known as the Dancing Pokémon as his partner for his first appeal, so it was fitting as he danced his way to the starting point, pulling out his Poke Ball in the process.
This Pokémon had been given to him as an egg by a traveler who was looking to learn some dance moves in Kalos that she could then teach to her four avian Pokémon who Tierno had run into by chance a few months ago though he never saw her Pokémon. It had hatched right before the Wallace Cup, but Tierno had waited until now to reveal it as it needed some training first and he hoped to reach the quarterfinals at least where he might be able to get some battle experience for it if he opted to use it then, but the first appeal was the best time for it to debut.
Everything was coordinated and ready and Tierno kept his dancing up as he reached the starting point with his final move. Then, as the move ended, he tossed out his Poke Ball in a smooth transition into his apply with a cry.
"Oricorio, come on out!" Tierno said as he threw out his Poke Ball.
The ball burst open, and a two-foot-tall avian Pokémon burst forth with a soft cry before flying around for a few seconds and then landed before him. Tierno knew that Trevor had seen the fire one, known as the Baile Style, at some fire festival under the command of an Alolan woman who specialized in the type like the woman who had given Tierno Oricorio's egg, but his wasn't red and black.
No as Oricorio stood before him in a pose ready to start, one wing to the side and one raised up to its pink beak all could see that it was purple with teal topped wings, tail, and on the crest along with teal to the sides of its eyes and a lilac pattern between the teal and the purple everywhere but the 4 strands on either side of its crest.
This version of Oricorio was the Sensu Style, a ghost and flying type rather than the fire and flying type one that Trevor had seen or the electric and flying one Tierno had heard that Kanto electric specialist he'd met a while back had or the fourth kind it could be which was a psychic and flying type. Apparently they could change their types based on certain nectars, but Tierno didn't know that he just knew that his was the Sensu style and he was going to use it's unique move that changed type with the type that the Oricorio was at the time as his first one in the appeal.
"Start this off with Revelation Dance." Tierno said as his appeal began.
Oricorio let out a cry before it leapt forward and began to dance very hard, it's moves calm, collected and above all almost ghostly quiet which was a little bit of a surprise. The nature of Revelation Dance changed with the style Oricorio was in and as Tierno's was a ghost type one it followed that style with a graceful dance that was still hard and powerful while seeming to invoke the spirits with the quiet moves it was making. It was just the kind of thing people would expect from Tierno and he was going to keep it up with his next move.
"And transition into Feather Dance." Tierno said, his own dance moves mimicking Oricorio's, making sure to give his order before the Revelation Dance ended. "Show all how well we dance."
Oricorio let out another cry as it transitioned from one dance-based move to another, opening its wings wind and moving around as if there was an opponent before it so that it could cover it with the mass of down that was Feather Dance. It wasn't as smooth as the Revelation Dance and the transition slightly off due to it not having as much training in dancing as Tierno's other Pokémon, but it still looked solid for all who were watching as Oricorio made it's way to the center of the stage and the end of its appeal.
As Oricorio reached the center of the stage the Feather Dance came to an end and Oricorio was facing the judges where it gave them a bob as instructed, it had seen the last Contest its human was in and its teammates had explained what to do to it before this, while Tierno bowed as well. When he rose from it his score was on the board. It was an 87, lower than Miette's but still decent and more than enough to keep him in the running pending the rest of the results and the second appeal of course.
Tierno smiled and bowed again before he turned and headed back to the waiting room as Jillian spoke about his appeal and then began to introduce the coordinator after him. He'd done as well as he could have hoped for but his main goal was the battles, so he really needed to get to them, well that and to show off to Serena. She was the next one of their group who was up and not for a while, so he'd get plenty of time in her beautiful company, so he hurried back to the waiting room to wait with her as the Grand Festival soldiered forward.
A long wait was an understatement for Serena as she was the 28th coordinator to go in the Grand Festival so she had to watch 15 coordinators go after Tierno who was the most recent either in their little group or a notable name like Brianna and Jessilina to go before her. Still, that did mean that Serena got a chance to see a lot of appeals and how well they were performing them which helped prepare her for this appeal.
So far things had been pretty even with a range from high 60s, mainly that low due to coordinators taking risks that failed, to mid-80s for the most part. So far only 5 had recorded scores of 90 or above with Brianna's 96 holding the lead by a fair bit over a 93 in second followed by two 91s and a 90 to round out the top 5. Then Miette was in a tie at 6th with 89 while Tierno was further down in a tie for 10th at 87 but it was really bunched up there so a solid second appeal would do well for those coordinators.
For Serena she was going to go all out with this appeal and a two-move appeal meant that she needed the right combo to do so with. Thankfully she had just the combo with one of her Pokémon and while she'd used the same combo before back in the Geosenge Contest it was still a solid one and she'd changed it up a bit this time to really show it, as well as her improvement of it, off. She knew that she could do well with it, and she was ready for her appeal.
"Well sometimes things work out, sometimes they don't." Jillian said as the explosion ended and Serena had to agree, the coordinator before her had tried something risky and it had backfired to produce a 71 score that clearly wasn't what the girl wanted, and she was shaking her head as she left. "Anyway, next up we have the most famous of the performers in the Grand Festival because she won the Master Class the year she entered though lost to Aria when she challenged the Kalos Queen for her crown, and because she shocked the Contest world this year with her victory in the Wallace Cup to claim the newly named Misty Ribbon. You all know her as the Kalos Princess from Vaniville Town so give it up for Princess Serena!"
Serena just smiled and waved to the crowd as she walked out to the loudest cheer yet but that was to be expected. She was a home region girl, the most well known of them thanks to her Master Class success and winning the Wallace Cup, so the mostly native crowd were behind her in the Grand Festival.
That said, they did show support for the other Kalos natives as well which was good, but Serena wanted to be the best of them, to show what she had and grow to one day take the crown of Kalos Queen for herself. This was just one of the steps she had to take in that journey.
She would do well with this appeal, she knew it and Serena was ready when she reached the starting point and pulled out her Poke Ball. It was time to show Kalos what she had to give in the first Grand Festival in her region's history.
"Vivillon, let's go." Serena said as she threw out her Poke Ball. "And start us off with Powder in the pattern we practiced. Be fast and precise my darling, I know you can do it."
Vivillon came out of his Poke Ball with a cry of agreement and began to fly right away. As Powder was, well, a powder it dispersed in the air so he had to be quick with his flying as he unleashed it in a graceful pattern that didn't seem to make sense to those watching it but would in a moment as the bug type move was formed in the air without getting any of it on himself.
It took a few seconds but soon it was done, going from the bottom up to form something that ended with Vivillon at the top of it just as they had trained it to be. Now it was time to ignite it and show all of Kalos what her Vivillon had made.
"Sunny Day!" Serena said.
Vivillon let out a cry as he fully opened his wings for a moment before the sunlight suddenly increased above him, the open-air stadium really adding to how well it, and Vivillon, looked. The moment the fire type attack was done the Powder did it's job and ignited as was it's nature when used on another Pokémon that would then use a fire type move.
This was simply a different application of it that Ash had thought up because he thought out of the box and Serena had perfected using the only fire type move Vivillon could learn to set the Powder aflame for her appeal with it. The crowd gasped at the result as a replica of a Kalos Contest ribbon suddenly appeared in flames above the stage.
The fire began at the top before forming it all and burning for a few seconds, the fire really showing Vivillon off at the top of it before it ended and Vivillon flapped down to bob as best he could to the judges while Serena gave them a proper Kalos curtsy. The move was designed to show respect to the Contest Committee while showing everything off at the same time and Serena smiled when she rose from her curtsy to see her score. It was a 91, she'd vaulted into the top portion of the appeals with that score.
It was just what she was looking for, a score that gave her some cushion going into the second round and one above 90 was just what she needed to ensure that comfort. With another curtsy, Serena recalled Vivillon and then left the stage smiling as she did.
She'd done well and while she had a feeling she'd drop a place in a moment, she was being followed by Jessilina after all and that woman wasn't a member of the Big 3 favorites for nothing, she would still be in a good spot for the next round. Then it was just another solid score and she'd advance to the battles. So far things were going smoothly for Serena as she hurried back to join her friends in the waiting room.
Jessie just watched the Kalos twerpette perform her appeal and get her score from the wings with a glare. She couldn't control it, though she knew for the sake of Jessilina's personality and reputation that was insanely marketable she would have manage it in a moment, but while she could be herself and not seen by anyone else she was going to be so.
The main reason for this was that she still hadn't gotten a chance to pay the twerpette back for beating her the Coumarine Contest. What made that loss even more grating was that it was all thanks to a lucky evolution and a super effective move turning the tables on Jessie when she had Serena dead to rights in the match.
Sure, as Jessilee she bested the Sinnoh twerpette at last and even faced Aria as the Master Class winner though as the morons didn't know that she was also Jessilee they wouldn't know that she'd done that, but she wanted to beat the Kalos twerpette as well. She'd been denied that at the Wallace Cup by the King of the Twerps himself but now was her chance to manage that first by beating Serena's score and then beating her in battle whenever fate drew them against each other as Jessie expected it to do so because that was just how it worked for her.
Jessie wasn't an idiot; she knew that the twerpette, and likely most if not all of her friends, would advance to the battles because they always did. Well, there she'd get her chance to beat some of them in those battles and get some revenge for her loss in Sinnoh by winning the Kalos Grand Festival.
She'd gotten her 5 ribbons on her own this time, no assistance from James or charity from a strange talking Misty, and now she'd finally become a Top Coordinator. All she had to do was keep this up and remind everyone why this time around she was one of the favorites.
"And that was a great appeal from a Kalos performer, the highest score a Kalos native has gotten so far but next up is a talent that can challenge this score as well as the leading one so far." Jillian said after a 91 was posted for Serena and Jessie plastered her Jessilina smile on her face as the girl walked towards her, ready to do as Jillian said and best that score. "That's because the next coordinator is one of the Big 3 this year with a 5 and 3 record tied for second best but more than that she's a Grand Festival semifinalist from her debut Grand Festival in Sinnoh a few years ago. She's come out of retirement for Kalos and is the only coordinator to beat a future Top Coordinator in the past, give it up for the Maiden of Sinnoh, Jessilina!"
Jessie kept her smile on her face as Serena passed her with a nod that Jessie politely returned during Jillian's introduction before she walked out and smiled at the crowd that was roaring for her. She even blew them some kisses in her usual homely manner as she hyped up the crowd herself on the way to the starting point as she basked in their adoration.
Jessilina was easily the most beloved of the three favorites and had the largest support base for any nonnative both of which Jessie loved as she lived for this attention from the masses. Now she was going to break the bank with her Jessilina persona because she was going to win a Grand Festival at last.
It was her time, she knew it, and after her Master Class success as Jessilee she was due it. Finally, Team Rocket were moving up in the world and she was going to show that as she reached the starting point and pulled out a Poke Ball. She was going to start this with one of her Pokémon that had Grand Festival experience to remind everyone just how good she was while also paying homage to her previous appearance which would further boost her appeal with the public.
"Yanmega, come on out and dazzle." Jessie said sending out her Poke Ball. "And start us out with Sonic Boom."
Yanmega buzzed as she beat her wings fast and then unleashed the normal type shockwave style attack and sent it flying across the stage. This was just the start though and Jessie grinned as suddenly Yanmega glowed green for all to see as her ability, Speed Boost, was triggered in the wake of her move and she got faster. That was just what Jessie wanted and she played on that to her next move that cap her appeal off in style.
"Now, Steel Wing." Jessie said. "Hit that shockwave before it ends."
Yanmega just buzzed again before she shot off after the disappearing sound wave, her wings turning to steel as she flew as fast as she could. It was going to be close, but she knew that she could make it as she tore across the battlefield and reached the soundwave just in time to hit it with her steel type attack. There was a loud, clear, gong from it as the moves clashed and Yanmega showed off her skills by striking it for all to see and she wasn't obstructed by any of it as she rose up on the wave of the impact.
Yanmega used that momentum to fully flip back, rolling in the air before she flew to the to the middle of the stage where she hovered and bobbed her upper body to the judges as Jessie curtsied to them in a prim and proper manner while bowing her head. Jessie smile pleasantly as she did but she knew she'd done it. It had been a risky appeal but one she knew she could pull off with Yanmega's training and ability and that was proven as she rose to see her score of 94 on the board.
True Jessie was a little peeved that she hadn't bested the 96 of that little brat Brianna but she kept it to herself as she curtsied again and recalled Yanmega before leaving. 94 wasn't a score to frown at and she had moved into second place so far which would give her a strong position for her amazing second appeal that would ensure she advanced to the battles where it was a whole new ballgame for them.
As Jessie walked back, ignoring Jillian's words, she knew that she'd done well and in the coming days she'd show her full strength for all of Kalos to see. Yes, this time she would win, she would raise the Ribbon Cup and become a Top Coordinator, Jessie knew it. The Kalos Grand Festival was hers.
For once Shauna wasn't nervous as she waited for her turn in the order of coordinators in the Grand Festival. She was the 35th to go and she wasn't nervous because she'd won the Wildcard, well there was technically no winner but she had gotten the highest score in it of 192 which was really high and so far no appeal today had bested her 97 from the second appeal for the highest individual appeal of the Grand Festival.
As such she was confident coming off that performance and ready for her appeals today. The battles would be something else, but she would be ready for them when they came, first she needed to get through the appeals.
So far the appeals had been pretty interesting with a lot of solid scores. Serena had managed an impressive 91 and was in the top 10 at the moment, so was Miette with her 89 though that was a tie for 10th, but it was plenty to work on for the next appeal. Shauna knew that they would do well, but she was going to prove that she was the best of the Kalos performers at appeals, she was even going to go after the Big 3, two of which topped the tables with the last one being the final coordinator of the day, that was Shauna's goal for the appeals.
She had just the right Pokémon for it as well. She was going to do what Tierno and Miette had done in their appeals and use a newer Pokémon for this appeal. She never got to us it in the Wallace Cup as facing Amelia had forced her to use Venusaur earlier than planned, she'd been saving her starter for Serena or the final depending on how things had gone, so now she was going to use it for her first appeal.
She had just the moves and routine for it that she knew would get her a good score. Then she'd go back to a classic and experienced Pokémon for the four-move appeal and really bring the house down with what she had planned. This was her chance to remind the Contest world what a performer could do, and she'd do so.
"Well done, that was a good appeal." Jillian said as the person before Shauna, a guy from Kanto it seemed, scored an 85 on his appeal and turned to leave the stage clearly unhappy with it. "Next up we have the third of the three performers in the Grand Festival to make a Master Class final, the same one as Miette and Serena, and like the latter she's a wildcard in the Grand Festival. However, she got the highest score in the Wildcard the other day so we're all excited to see what this Kalos lady has in store for us today. From Vaniville Town, give it up for the Appealer from Vaniville, Shauna!"
Shauna was a little surprised that she'd finally earned a nickname like Serena, Miette, and Tierno had managed this year, but she smiled at it as she walked out to cheers that could just about rival Serena's from the crowd because it was a fitting nickname for her. Her success in the Wildcard had really helped her and now she was going to reward that support by building on her Wildcard success with another one in the Grand Festival itself.
It was time and Shauna was ready as she reached the starting point and pulled out her Poke Ball. Her path to the battle round began now.
"Drifloon, let's perform." Shauna said as she tossed out her Poke Ball. "And start us off with Will-O-Wisp."
Drifloon burst from its Poke Ball without a sound and just nodded as it formed before sending out a blast of bluish white flames out of its mouth and over the stage the moment it could as it remained floating in the air where it had emerged from its Poke Ball. The intense fire type attack always burned and with the strange color which only added to the ominous nature of it as the fire burned in the air but that was all part of it as Shauna knew what she was going to do to play on it. This was just the first step for the appeal.
"Now, fly above it and spread it out with Ominous Wind." Shauna said raising her hand. "I know you can do it."
Drifloon knew that time was of the essence so it just flew up and across in a diagonal line to get above the burning blue flames and then before they could go out it unleased a blast of repulsive wind from its mouth in a gust from above right onto the Will-O-Wisp. The ghost type attack hit the fire type one and sent it flying around the stage in a burning circle of blue-white flames that were riding the purple wind of Ominous Wind. The colors made everything look sinister but pretty at the same time while all showing off Drifloon floating above it in the process.
This was Shauna's plan, and it was just as they'd rehearsed with Drifloon spinning through the air to really show off in the light of the flames and wisps of wind as the moves ended before coming to a gentle and graceful stop in the center of the stage and bowing its head thing to the judges. At the same time Shauna gave a curtsy as perfect as the ones that Serena and Miette had done to show that the appeal was over.
The crowd let out a cheer at that and it only grew as the score was posted and Shauna rose from her curtsy to see it. It was a 95, the same starting score that she had had in her first appeal in the Wildcard and the second best of the day so far. It placed her between Brianna and Jessilina, so she'd bested one of the Big 3 in the first round which was a big confidence boost for her.
Shauna held it in though as she smiled and curtsied again before recalling Drifloon and leaving as Jillian praised her score and how it was a great example of the Kalos performer style that was becoming a staple in Kalos Contests. She'd done well, gotten a score that was more than enough to be comfortable with, but Shauna naturally wanted more. She wanted to best the little witch that was Brianna for all that she'd done to Serena and May, and she was going to do that in the next round.
Her smile grew as she left the stage and headed back to the waiting room as she went over her her next appeal in her mind as she focused on beating Brianna for the top appeal score. That would shut the brat up when a Kalos performer and a wildcard no less bested her. That would really boost Shauna as she entered the battles and the Grand Festival progressed towards crowning its first ever champion.
Khoury was nervous in the wings as he gulped in his suit that he was still not a fan of competing in it but that was the Kalos rules and Lyra did like seeing him in it, so he'd push through it for her. He may have 5 ribbons in 9 Contests and be seen as one of the closest the Big 3 out there making him a notable dark horse in the Grand Festival but he was a naturally nervous guy. Still, he was going to do his best, advance, and go for the Ribbon Cup while growing and learning along the way.
This would also motivate Lyra to do well in the upcoming Lumiose Conference where she was trying to win it, so he had to do well for her so that she did well as well. He could do it; he'd win this and really show what he got in his first ever Grand Festival.
"A straightforward and easy to follow appeal for sure." Jillian said as the appeal before Khoury ended with an 80 for the guy who was clearly pissed at the score as he stormed angrily off the stage, but Khoury ignored that as he got into the zone for his own appeal. "Next up we have one of the solid dark horses on the circuit this year who could cause an upset in the Grand festival. He's one of the few coordinators with a winning record in Contests coming into the Grand Festival this season with 5 wins and 4 losses. He's also an aspiring breeder from New Bark Town in the Johto region, give it up for Khoury!"
Khoury didn't have a nickname and frankly he didn't mind as he walked out to a good cheer from the crowd. There was no real pressure on him and no large support base to impress. The only person he wanted to really show off for what Lyra who he knew was enthusiastically supporting him and he'd show that now as he made his way to the starting point, his mind at easy and ready for what was to come.
No matter what happened, Khoury would give it his all and do everything he could to advance to the battles. With that mentality he knew he could do it as he pulled out his Poke Ball and reached the starting point.
"Crawdaunt, go." Khoury said tossing out his Poke Ball and showing off one of the Pokémon that he'd caught this year. "Start us off with Rock Slide to create the obstacles you need."
Crawdaunt just nodded as he activated the attack. Three boulders seemed to slide out of the air and fell down, one after another, onto the battlefield to impact it with a boom that slightly shook the stage. That was just what Khoury was going for as it was time to show off Crawdaunt's raw strength with it's next move that should also get him points for destroying made obstacles and he hoped that the juxtaposition of rock and water type moves would work well for him.
"Now destroy them with Razor Shell." Khoury said.
Crawdaunt clicked his claws in agreement before they glowed with water type power, and he shot off at the boulders. He moved swiftly and efficiently as he struck each boulder to cause it to break from the impact in an explosion, but he was already on the move to the next one as the first was breaking apart and kept it up through the final boulder, using the explosion to flip back. The entire time he made sure that he was always seen as trained while also showing off speed and precision in the process.
As the rubble rained down around him, Crawdaunt landed in the center of the stage facing the judges and bowed as best he could while Khoury offered one of his own though it wasn't as good as the Kalos men could produce and came off way too stiff. Still, it was a bow and showed that he had finished his first appeal, so it was time for his score. That came a few seconds later as he rose and saw that he had received a 91. That was a good score, easily within the top 16 and a great base to build off when he performed his second appeal.
Khoury could do that and was already thinking of what he was going to do in his second appeal as he recalled Crawdaunt, bowed again, and then left as Jillian praised his appeal and then began to introduce the next coordinator. His nerves were stilled, his mind clear, it was time to get back, chat with his friends and prepare to match or improve his score so that he could advance to the battles in Kalos's inaugural Grand Festival.
"Well things have been looking pretty solid so far." Lyra said after Khoury went and they had a moment to discuss the results so far as all that was left for them to focus on was Emily's appeal which was going to be the last one of the round. "That 91 was a solid score for Khoury."
"It was, he's doing well, currently above the cut off." May said looking at the scores. "In fact, all but Tierno are there and while Miette with that 89 will be in the danger zone of dropping below the cut off I think she'll be fine when the round ends. I expect at least Emily and maybe two or three more to match or push her down in the rankings."
"Emily should be up there with Shauna, Brianna, and Jessilina." Misty said. "She's got the experience and talent to pull off a high score. The one that I'm most impressed with is Shauna. She's really gotten the nuances of appeals and is showing that the Wildcard wasn't a fluke or specially tailored to her Spinda."
"She was a talented freestyler last year, probably slightly better than Serena if I'm being honest." May said. "But only just and Serena's were always a lot more fun to watch, not that Shauna's weren't mind you, but when I compare them together I can really see the spark that burns in Serena more than Shauna though both have it to some extent. Neither can hold a candle to Aria yet, but the appeals are really making Shauna grow."
"While it is the battles more for Serena and certainly Miette after what we saw in Aquacorde." Misty said as the next score, an 81, was posted. "She's really shown that improvement there and brought a lot more development to how a Contest battle is conducted thanks to her Showcase pedigree."
"She'll make it." Bonnie said his support for Serena unwavering. "I know it."
May and Misty nodded as they settled back to watch a few more appeals before Emily's. They were the main commentators during the appeals as they understood them best while the other girls were just supporting their chosen coordinators, Serena in Bonnie's case and Khoury in Lyra's.
As for the guys, they were just watching to enjoy them, support their friends, and in Max's case see what they could learn from them. They all noted how Trevor was snapping pictures of all the Pokémon used, Adam was furiously writing in a notebook next, and Owen was assessing the appearances of the Pokémon to determine how the raising of the Contest Pokémon in display was going so as to grow as a breeder. According to Max it was what he'd learned from Yuma back before the opening ceremony and was really taking her lesson to heart.
For Ash it was mainly just the support and enjoyment at the moment, he'd get more out of the battles when they rolled around but appeals did teach him some nuances that might come in handy though his focus there was on Pokémon or moves that were the same as his team. As such he wasn't talking much even after Serena's appeal, though he did note Tierno's new Pokémon and how it varied from Kahili's. It was interesting to see the differences that were unique to that species from Alola, and he was going to ask Tierno about it later.
Later being the operative word as they continued to watch and enjoy the appeals of the final few coordinators, their friends all still in it with varying scores. There was only one left, and it was nearing her time so naturally Misty had to ask about what was coming from the Kanto girl she'd help guide a little in the ways of Contest and the heart at times.
"What Pokémon will Emily go for?" Misty asked, it was posed to all, but Adam was the only one who could actually answer it given how close they were. "She's registered her Clefable, Whimsicott, Carbink, Sylveon, Klefki, and Vulpix for the Grand Festival which was a little surprising as I expected her Spritzee not Vulpix."
"It's going to be Vulpix for the two-move appeal, her ice type attacks work well for it and Emily wants to get experience for her and this way she's not got too many pure fairy types." Adam said flipping over to a page in his book that Misty noted was covered in drawings and notes on all of Emily's Pokémon. "It's key that Vulpix gets experience before she evolves. Emily wants to find an Ice Stone, that's how you evolve an Alolan Vulpix and when it evolves it gains a fairy type like Emily's other Pokémon while becoming the ultimate anti-dragon type Pokémon and only one with that typing, but she wants Vulpix to have more experience for it."
"Makes sense." Misty said as Emily's time neared. "Mine took a while before he was ready but the moment I got presented with the Fire Stone he needed he leapt for it; I didn't even get a chance to hold it that's how ready he was to evolve. Now as a Ninetales he's stronger and I can't wait to properly use him in something."
"That and Ninetales is one gorgeous Pokémon." May said. "Well, yours is a rarer male so handsome and he knows it even if he gets embarrassed by how your Malamar and Machamp act. I wonder what the Alolan one will look like when Emily evolves hers."
"It will be a while yet but from what I've heard it's going to look similar only as a Ninetales." Adam said. "Ice Stones aren't easy to find and don't occur naturally in Kalos as far as we know. Apparently they can be found in Alola and Galar at least from what I've been told so hopefully we can get it in time. She got lucky to get a Sun Stone for her Whimsicott but that was a gift, she won't get that with an Ice Stone I think."
"Well yeah because I was the one who gave it to her as I no longer needed it at the time, ironic as I'd end up catching a Helioptile this year and he needs a Sun Stone to evolve but so far he's shown no desire so it's no loss to me." Misty said as the penultimate appeal began. "So, it will be Vulpix, that makes sense, and her other appeal?"
"She registered Klefki for it." Adam said. "It's one of her better appeals Pokémon that she has and not a big battle Pokémon though she'll use it in situations where she may be at a disadvantage as the steel type negates the steel and poison weaknesses that fairy types have. Well, all that and a Klefki is the Pokémon most associated with Showcases thanks to Pierre so it's a bit of a tribute to Kalos and its native competition as well."
"That's nice of Emily though don't forget that a Klefki trades its fairy weaknesses for steel's weaknesses to fire and ground type attacks." May said. "I remember seeing that with Valerie's Mawile which has the same typing. Still, that should be good."
"Well, I can't wait to see it all." Misty said. "And soon we will get to as this appeal is coming to an end and then Emily will close it out for the morning session."
"All of our friends are still in it." Max said. "Right?"
"So far it seems that way." May said. "But as with the Wildcard, the second appeal will make or break it for a lot of coordinators, and this is even more technical than usual."
"It is?" Bonnie asked.
"Yup, usually a full appeal is anywhere from 3 to 6 moves, give or take what you're trying to accomplish, and you often use the same move a few times." May said. "I even once did a whole appeal with my Skitty only using only Assist which selects a random move from the Pokémon on me at the time so there was more to it than just that. It was an insanely stupid risk that almost cost me as it wasn't impressing Mr. Contesta but I salvaged it in the end. Harley manipulated me into because the randomness meant I had no idea what was coming, and it didn't show off Skitty well which was his ploy all along. After that I learned to never trust Harley again."
"We've all learned that." Max said trying to sound sage and failing at it.
"Yes Max, we have." May said as the penultimate appeal ended with a 79 so not a great score and Emily was introduced by Jillian as the final coordinator in the Grand Festival to give an appeal, the last of the Big 3 and of course used her nickname. "Don't think I've forgotten that incident."
"He got us both sis and I'm sorry, but it was a funny story." Max said with a shrug. "And look at you now, you've grown a lot since then."
"Yes, well I have Ash to thank for that." May said as Emily sent out her Vulpix as Adam had told them she would. "So, let's not revisit it or Harley, he's an ass with an unreasonable dislike for me though he's not full evil like Drew, just has a strange obsession with beating me and getting in my head."
"That's saying something." Max said as Vulpix appeared but rather than give a move they watched Emily order Vulpix to the middle before telling it to use Ice Shard and aim high while spinning in a circle. "I think he likes you in some way, remember the Kanto Grand Festival."
"Don't remind me." May said with a shiver as Vulpix performed its first move. "That was extremely disturbing."
"You know, you could share these stories with us." Misty said as Emily ordered a sweeping Dark Pulse to shatter the ice that had just been made before it hit the ground. "That will help us understand this, especially as I for one have never met Harley."
"The Max thing was a story he shared with Harley about my childhood he shouldn't have, I'll tell you it later Misty because I'm good with it now and can see the humor these days and it is something that helped make me who I am today in the long run." May said as they all watched the ice destroyed in a graceful circle that showed the stage with sparkling ice fragments and dark sparks that really accentuate Vulpix. "As for the Kanto incident, Harley decided to do his appeals in, um, a very specific form of drag."
"Drag?" Misty asked. "Like when Ash wore that maid's outfit in Sinnoh."
"Ok we are getting that story later because I have to hear it." May said though Ash wasn't really paying attention as he was focused on the appeal and if he could learn anything from it as it was a good one. "But yes, Harley showed up in drag and more specifically it was, um, my outfit for him and he asked to be called Mayley during the appeals. It only lasted for the duration of the appeals thankfully but, yeah, that's what he did."
"Wait…" Misty said her eyes going wide as Emily's score of 95 was posted, something she'd congratulate her on later as it put her in a tie for second with Shauna behind Brianna and really showed her improvement in her second season as a coordinator. "So basically…"
"It was the inverse of what you did a while back with Ash's clothes." May said. "Only this was unprompted and for his own reasons that I am sure weren't related to love. It was disturbing but Harley was always about playing mind games. It's why he was the perfect one for Drew to betray me to, but we won't go down there."
"No, we won't." Misty said as Emily left the stage and Misty used her appeal to shift the conversation onto a better topic. "That was a really good appeal, Emily's in a great place for the second appeal."
"She is." Adam said excitedly. "That worked just as she planned it, I can't wait…"
"Alright that is the intermission folks." Jillian said cutting off any chatter and thus starting the lunch break. "Our 50 coordinators have given their first appeals and gotten their first scores. We will now take a half hour lunch break and then it is right back into the second appeals, a four-move appeal with a different Pokémon for a second score as they all chase the top 16 spots and the battles that begin tomorrow. See you in half an hour for more pulse pounding appeals!"
"Oh, right we got distracted." Bonnie said as everyone around them started to get up. "Why is the next appeal more technical, May?"
"Huh, oh yeah it's more technical because it is 4 moves, and each has to be different." May said. "So, a Pokémon needs to know the maximum 4 moves and then the coordinator needs to string them together into a cohesive and strong appeal using each move only once. It's a real challenge as often we use at least one move twice, especially with moves likes Shadow Ball to generate more than the one normally made so that our Pokémon have more to work with during the appeal. That's a real challenge and adds to the competition I feel."
"It will be interesting to see." Misty said as they all got up to stretch, use the bathroom, and get some food from the stadium's venders. "So, let's enjoy this break and then meet back to support Serena, Shauna, Tierno, Miette, Khoury, and Emily as they try to make it to the battles."
The others all nodded and got up to leave for the break. They all hoped that they others were doing well in the waiting room and mentally prepared for the second appeals. The Grand Festival's first day was halfway done and still anything could happen when the second round of appeals began.
"Well, that was to be expected from one of the Big 3." Serena said to Shauna, Miette, Tierno, and Khoury in their little area of the waiting room as they watched Emily's appeal end the first round of appeals and her 95 vault her into a tie for second with Shauna. "So, there it is, the order after the first appeals is set and we know what we have to go for.
The others nodded as they looked at the scores and figured out where they were. Brianna was leading with Emily and a slight surprise in Shauna tied in second while the last of the Big 3, Jessilina, was a point behind them meaning that the top 4 were separated by 2 points. Then it was a bit more bunched up with two more at 93, two at 92, four including Serena and Khoury at 91, one with 90 and 5 with 89 where Miette was.
That was where the cut off was at the tie around 89 but then things started to spread out more as Tierno was still in the top half with his 87 so he wasn't out of it just yet. He knew that and knew that he had to keep a level and calm head and produce a solid appeal and he'd advance as well. There was still another appeal, and they all had a chance to advance, they knew it.
It had certainly been an eventful and stressful morning as they all went, got their own scores, watched the other scores appear, and kept track of things. Now Serena was really understanding what Misty, and Emily for that matter, went through the year before in the Kanto Grand Festival as they waited for the necessary scores to see if they could advance though it was a two-stage appeal with only 64 advancing past the first one unlike how all went twice in Kalos. Still, this was much more stressful than the Wildcard had been a few days ago.
However, together they were able to get through it all and thankfully Brianna hadn't bothered to annoy them. She'd glared at them, especially when Shauna posted her score, throughout the morning, but otherwise that warning was keeping her muzzled which made them all happy. Now they could enjoy their lunch break as Emily rejoined them and some staff came in with the lunch provided for the coordinators as they waited for the second appeals to begin.
"That was a good appeal." Serena said as Emily reached them. "A little different from most what with a slight pause before the first move, most of us jumped into it right away but you took the time to get into position. That really showed how you've got a little more experience in this compared to the rest of us."
"I figured with Vulpix it would be harder to move her into the center with a single move based off what she knows, so I wanted her there at the start to shine." Emily said as they all got their lunch. "I learned from watching Misty last year that patience can be key in an appeal and yeah my Grand Festival experience did help a bit, I won't deny that."
"That's right, you were taught by our alpha." Miette said as she tucked into her food. "How was that? I faced her in a double battle once, back after I confronted her about our shared crush and all that and she showed me she was the dominant one. I really learned a lot from how she handed me my ass in that match and as it was a double battle under Contest rules it did help me get a taste of what is to come should I make it to tomorrow."
"I really wish I didn't know exactly what you're talking about but alas I do." Emily said while Khoury and Tierno took their food and went elsewhere to allow the girls to have some girl time. "Misty's explained her, er, special rivals in the past, so I am not surprised she got another one in you. I wouldn't call her my teacher per se, she's a mentor sure and has given me tips but she's more, um, well, my Contest idle I guess is the best way to put it. She's who I admire the most and want to be like, in my own way as I am a type specialist. It took all year just to go a full 5 minutes against her last year but losing to her in the semifinals wasn't bad because it was to her."
"Ah I see now, you like that green haired boy you travel with and have faced a real or perceived rival then, that how you're able to understand us so well." Miette said with a grin that caused Emily to go bright red while Serena and Shauna chuckled at that, Miette did have a good eye for this kinda thing. "And faced her, or him perhaps I don't judge, to prove yourself as the superior female."
"I…" Emily said clearly trying to deny it, but Miette just raised an eyebrow to show she wasn't going to buy any excuses. "There's no point in denying it, is there?"
"None." Serena said with a sigh. "Miette's got a nose for this though your crush on Adam is rather obvious to most of us. Only the guys don't know about it and that's because dense is too moderate a word for them, especially Ash."
"That is true." Shauna said. "Like seriously, how did Misty get through to Ash?"
"She didn't, a mutual friend called Iris who we all want to slap was the one who managed it." Serena said and Miette nodded at that though unlike Serena she'd yet to meet the infamous Unovan girl. "Nice girl though, I've met her twice now but still she is the only female traveling companion of Ash's to not fall for him which is saying something. She's also very blunt so that's how she managed it. She saw Misty's crush and how Ash might have one back was direct about it to him. The combination of no romantic feelings for Ash and a bluntness hard enough to shatter boulders finally got through Ash's thick skull."
"Yeah that was really annoying to learn but whatever." Miette said with a sigh. "I never even had a chance and while my feelings for Ash are only getting stronger I am learning to deal with it thanks to some help. I'll see her again in Kanto next year which will further this as well as my own growth as a performer and as a woman."
"She does do great work." Serena said. "But yeah that's how Misty won Ash's heart."
"So, let's ignore out heartbreak and focus on our youngest girl who doesn't like Ash but does like a single man." Miette said grinning at Emily who now looked really nervous at the look Miette was giving her. "Who was your rival?"
"It, it was Korrina and not because she liked Adam." Emily said quickly clearly trying to mitigate her past actions. "She's just a fighting specialist who's fluid style is similar to Brawley's, the gym leader of Adam's hometown out in Hoenn who he admires even if his style is a bit different from Brawley's. I got jealous and challenged her, even beat her but that was more because I'm a fairy specialist who was going against a fighting one. I had some struggles with her Lucario, especially when it was Mega Evolved, but that was it. We ended on good terms, and she didn't suspect a thing. I mean it's not like it was some psycho with knives and a bloodlust that likes Adam as well."
"That just sounds like some fiction novel, not something that would happen in real life." Shauna said. "Most confrontations like this are more civil."
"For the most part, you didn't meet Kenny." Serena said. "But Ash handled him spectacularly even if Misty, May, and myself now have scars from that day but it was worth it to put him in his place. I've heard that there is still one girl Misty has yet to face though, one that is the worst of us so she could be a problem should they cross paths."
"I heard what that Dawn woman's story and how bad she'd been." Miette said. "And there's one worse than her?"
"Dawn is nice once you get to know her, her issues were her love and jealousy were really strong and that didn't mix well with her notoriously short fuse." Serena said. "She and Misty had some issues, but they worked it out with a fair bit of property damage even if I'm still skeptical about that Gyarados thing and are now really close. Well, that and Dawn got the help she needed to make amends to Misty like a mature woman should when she realized that she went too far."
"I did notice that at the Wallace Cup." Miette said recalling how close Dawn and Misty seemed to be. "And she understands all of us really well."
"That she does but she is the first of us who's can sniff out a rival in seconds so that makes sense." Serena said with a nod. "But I think this is enough chat about our failed love lives, let's get the boys back and enjoy our lunch as a group. We need our strength and sanity for what is to come."
"So true, I recall how bad it was back in Kanto." Emily said as they went to join Khoury and Tierno. "It's going to be a nerve fest for sure. We all did well and know what we have to do though so let's continue to give our best for the Ribbon Cup so that we can be proper rivals in the battles."
The others all nodded at that as it was the right attitude to have and trust the youngest with them to say it but then again she was the only one who'd made a Grand Festival so understood this in a way even those with Master Class or Conference experience couldn't. As such they all just enjoyed the rest of their lunch break as they got ready for the appeals to resume as the first day of the Kalos Grand Festival entered its second half.
"Alright, we've all had time for a break, get some food, and to digest the first set of appeals." Jillian said as the crowd settled, and Brianna stood in the wings grinning and ready for her second appeal that would assert her superiority in the Grand Festival. "So, without further ado let's get the second appeal started and these are the ones that will get feedback from our judges. We will be going in the same order as before, so you all know who is coming now. Give it up for one of the Big 3 this year, the Flower of Kanto from Chrysanthemum Town, Brianna!"
Brianna walked out and ignored the limited cheering that she got from the ignorant masses. Despite leading after the first round as she expected the useless and foolish peons beneath her couldn't see her as the hero she knew that she was, nor could they see her as the great coordinator who'd raise the first Kalos Ribbon Cup thanks to her amazing and perfect mentor.
Well soon they'd see that as she reached the starting point and pulled out her Poke Ball for her second appeal. She had just the Pokémon and moves for a four-move appeal that would blow their small minds away with its brilliance. Again it would pay homage to her darling Drew, and she'd increase her score so that no one could challenge her as the highest scoring coordinator in the appeals before she crushed the inferior insects who dared challenger her beneath her feet in the battles.
"Masquerain, steal the show." Brianna said tossing out her Poke Ball. "And go high before covering the stage with a layer of Sweet Scent."
Masquerain buzzed as she shot up and high to reach the altitude that Brianna wanted her to be at. Then, the moment she was there, she turned on a dime using her wings the way only her species could do and shot off across the battlefield covering it in a haze of Sweet Scent that was dense and hung there in a layer just as Brianna planned it.
"Now down and back with Bubble." Brianna called out as Masquerain reached the end of the stage. "Drop lower just as we practiced."
Masquerain just buzzed again as she finished the Sweet Scent, dove down a level while turning with the elegance only a Masquerain could pull off and shooting back only now she was releasing her Bubble attack to cover the air with a layer of bubbles beneath the Sweet Scent. The gap was such that they didn't mingle but close enough so that both accentuated the other really well as planned, something few coordinators could pull off which showed Brianna's talent, and as such she was grinning broadly as the second layer was formed just as planned.
"Finish the layers with a third and final one of Silver Wind." Brianna said as Masquerain neared the end of the stage with her Bubble. "Then blow everyone away to remind all why we are the best with a Gust from below and right in the center of the stage."
Masquerain buzzed once more as she reached the end of her Bubble and repeated the maneuver to drop down and turned the same as she'd done after Sweet Scent ended before shooting off. This time she was letting her scales flow off behind her with the bug type move to create the Silver Wind.
Again, it was such that the three moves didn't clash but now created a three-layer, 3D, image of the moves for all to see as the bubbles really made the colors of Sweet Scent and Silver Wind show off while gleaming in their own right thanks to the other moves. However, all this was just the appetizer to what was to come when it all came together with the finishing move.
The moment Masquerain reached the end of her Sliver Wind she again repeated the drop down though this time she didn't use a move as she shot to the center of the stage and then came to an abrupt halt and tilted back really showing off her wings and ability to fly in any direction in the process. Then she looked up at her creation and beat her wings fast to create and immense gust of wind that shot up and at her previous moves from all directions.
This was Brianna's grand finale as the Gust blew the Silver Wind from below, driving it into the bubbles that absorbed them and then again with the Sweet Scent just before it could fully disperse. Finally, everything was sent flying in bubbles containing the other two moves that soared up and around the stadium to burst in the cheering and excited crowd at such a move.
Only when it was all over did Masquerain, who was now in the middle of the stage, bend forward and use her wings to bow to the judges as Brianna curtsied her grin still on her face as she did. She knew she'd just blown away the field and now it was time for the judges to acknowledge her superiority in the Grand Festival.
"What an appeal but then again that is what we've come to expect from the top favorite this year, she's really living up to her billing." Jillian said as Brianna rose from her curtsy to look at the judges who were about to tell the masses how brilliant she was. "Do your judges agree?"
"Masquerain showed off several impressive moves, control, and the unique nature of how it can fly really well in that appeal." Mr. Contesta said with a nod. "And to top it off you showed off the secondary type well with that Gust to end it. Well done."
"Simply remarkable." Sukizo said with a smile which was to be expected even if Brianna hated how bland the man's responses always were.
"Masquerain was fast, strong, and agile the entire time." Nurse Joy said happily. "It is clear you've raised and trained it well."
Brianna smiled at that, they'd done what she'd expected and acknowledged that she was the best so now it was time for her score to reflect that. Well, she hoped but she couldn't stop her eyebrow from twitching in fury when the score appeared on the board. For most a 95 would be amazing and it gave her a combined score of 191, easily enough to advance with only really three in the field could realistically challenge it, providing they maintained form from the first appeal, but Brianna was pissed at it.
Her appeal had been perfect, it deserved a 100 and she knew it, or at least a 98 to put her above any other score in the Grand Festival. She should have the top overall score no matter what, she was the best thanks to her darling Drew but the ignorant and foolish judges, the same morons who'd falsely slapped her with a warning for not seeing her righteous judgment of the villains in this world back in the Wallace Cup, had defied her again. Now she had a good score, but that false coordinator Shauna had 192 in the Wildcard.
This was an indignation that Brianna wouldn't suffer but had to bear for the sake of her image and to avoid triggering that damn warning she was forced to have on her spotless record and flawless reputation. That would get her kicked out of the Grand Festival if she did and she couldn't have that, she refused to let the evil polluting it and the Contest world win when she was her to purify it with her goodness.
Of course, she'd lodge a formal complaint with the Contest Committee Ethics Board about the bad judging when this was done, that had to be done after that appalling score she'd gotten. Alas she didn't expect it to be listened to as they'd ignored her formal complaint for that villain Ketchum's cheating in the Wallace Cup that she'd lodged right after her unfair loss to him, but she had to make her point known.
All this would come after she won the Grand Festival of course and now she was going to crush all those in her way in the battles as a way to prove she deserved a better score. Well, that and after such a bad display of judging she no longer trusted the judges to be fair to her in the battles, so she had to win them decisively just to ensure that she won them.
This was what was on Brianna's mind as she recalled Masquerain, bowed with her forced smile at the stupid judges, turned and walked off the stage. She was going to advance at least and then she'd be on the way to victory, she knew it. All she had to do was wait and watch the rest of the appeals to make sure that all her enemies advanced so that she could meet out the justice they deserved in the battles of the Grand Festival when they met there. Yes, things may not be fair for Brianna, but she was going to win it all, she was sure of it.
"Another solid appeal for a good overall score." Jillian said as the coordinator before Miette posted an 85 after the final feedback came so an improvement of 2 from the last one and a total of 165 which likely wouldn't be enough to advance but was still respectable for a Grand Festival debut. "Next up to give her second appeal it's the Bluebell of Kalos, Miette!"
Miette smiled and waved as she walked out to the cheering crowd that gave her a loud welcoming once again. With the first appeals in the books there wasn't much need for intros, and they would get feedback now so that took up some time that Jillian would usually use for her hype of the coordinator about to go, but Miette didn't mind. She had one appeal under her belt and was ready for the second one, they all were, so she was fully in the zone for it.
It was do or die time now, so they all had to be ready and know what they needed to do to advance. Miette certainly knew that and had her Poke Ball ready as she reached the starting point prepared to improve on her score and advance to the battles tomorrow.
"Meowstic, time to perform." Miette said as she sent out her Poke Ball. "Start us off with Psybeam."
Miette's Meowstic burst from his Poke Ball with a flip and landed on the stage his mouth already open so that the moment he landed he unleashed the peculiar beam of psychic power from it. The blast shot across the battlefield as intended and Miette grinned because she was about to take this up a notch and really show of her Pokémon's type, power, and skills.
"Now grab it with Psychic and bend it back to you." Miette said. "So that you can destroy it with Sucker Punch."
Meowstic just meowed in agreement as he closed his eyes, unfurled his ears, and glowed blue. A second later he grabbed the beam of psychic power that was still going across the stage and took hold of it in his psychic hold. Then, using Psychic and going with the movement the Psybeam to ensure he got everything right he arced the first attack, now glowing blue in his Psychic hold, up and back in a graceful arc towards him though now it was higher in the air. This was all part of the plan, however.
That was because the moment the Psybeam was on the path back to Meowstic, he ended his Psychic and leap up and at the front of the beam before striking it with his paw as he hit it with Sucker Punch making sure he hit it at a downward angle as they'd practiced. The dark type attack hit the psychic type one and they blew up and Meowstic rode the explosion upwards, spinning and gracefully flipping in the air as he was made the center of attention before straightening so that he was standing in the air as he reached his apex and Miette ordered their grand finale.
"Now finish this was a Disarming Voice as you fall down." Miette said.
Meowstic just nodded as he began to fall before he opened his mouth and unleashed a powerful, clear, Disarming Voice. The charming cry of the fairy type move easy to be heard by all as he fell while unleashing the move.
Serena's use of it with her own Meowstic in the Wildcard had been good so naturally Miette had to one up it and this was just how she did it. Her own Meowstic gracefully fell to the ground while piping out the move, the timing such that he ended just as he touched down a little off center but facing the right way so that he could bow to the judges to show that the appeal had come to an end.
Miette lowered herself into a proper curtsy, bowing her head in time with Meowstic's bow to show that the appeal was over. It was a little faster than some may have expected but with the moves at play that was how they worked together while showing off the Pokémon that was the point of a Contest appeal, not how fast or slow it was.
"Another stunning appeal that continues to show the emerging style amongst Kalos's female coordinators who have Showcase pedigree have brought to Contests this year." Jillian said as Miette and Meowstic rose to await their feedback. "Do the judges concur with me?"
"Meowstic displayed his own type and control over it well along with a strong understanding of a type he is weak to, and the ending was well timed." Mr. Contesta said. "All what we've come to expect from the performers who are showing us how universal Contests are by competing in them at the same level as they produced in Showcases in years past."
"Yes, remarkable." Sukizo said with his usual smile.
"Meowstic looked so cute there and his fur sparkled in that explosion showing good use of Poke Puffs in his rearing." Nurse Joy said bobbing her head. "You take great care of him, I can tell."
Miette just smiled at the words before she curtsied again, Meowstic bowing as well. That smile grew as her score was posted as she looked at the board. It was a 90, which gave her a combined score of 179. It wasn't near the leading score of 191 by Brianna but it was the second place one so far thanks to the only other person scoring higher than her first score before she went messing up an overly complicated appeal where one move just didn't fit what the coordinator was planning.
Overall, it was a solid score, and Miette was confident she'd advance to the battles where she'd really shine but now she would be waiting nervously for that to come as she recalled Meowstic and left the stage as Jillian, in her ever-professional manner, was moving on to the next coordinator. Miette had done her best and she knew it, the rest was in fate's hands to see if she advanced to the battles in the Grand Festival, so she hurried back to the waiting room to watch the rest of the appeals unfold with her friends and rivals as the day continued.
"Well, that was different." Jillian said and Tierno had to agree, the coordinator before him had scored an 80, 10 below the 90 she had scored in the first appeal. "But time will tell with that. Anyway, next up it's one of the Kalos boys going for his second appeal so give it up for the Dancer from Santalune himself, Tierno!"
Tierno again danced out to the cheering crowd as he made his way to the starting point. He'd paid close attention to what was going on and the way the scores were now varying more than in the first round thus spreading out the field when the combined scores went up. As such, he knew he had to match, if not improve on, his score to have a shot at advancing. He was going to do that though; he knew it and he was in full zone as he danced and reached the starting point to toss out his Poke Ball in a smooth move as he came to a stop with his own dance.
"Hitmontop come on out." Tierno said. "And right into Rolling Kick."
Hitmontop burst from his Poke Ball already spinning so he just inverted himself to land on his top and began to spin on it as fast as he could. As soon as he had his momentum up he shot forward and leapt off the ground to show off the Rolling Kick as he lashed his leg out in the air as he spun before he landed and kept it up to preserve his momentum.
"Good now cross the stage with Gyro Ball." Tierno said. "Before returning with Pursuit."
Hitmontop didn't say anything, he didn't need to, as he picked up speed and shot across the battlefield with the steel type move, one Tierno taught him to counter fairy types but the very nature of it allowed him to also really show off how he spun on his top. He did that now as he tore across the stage hard and fast at a hypothetical opponent to let everyone see how good his Gyro Ball was.
It only lasted a few moments before he reached the other side and leapt out of the Gyro Ball, twisted in the air, and flipped so that he landed on his feet facing Tierno and leaning forward as he slid back a few feet. Then, the moment he stopped, he pushed off the ground and crossed the battlefield to the center with it where he punched the air when he landed to show the nature of the dark type move that was another move Hitmontop knew to counter a type weakness of his.
"That's it now face the judges and end this with Close Combat." Tierno said. "Show what a fighting type can do."
Hitmontop turned to the judges before he unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks to show off his Close Combat and fighting type to them as best he could. The whole goal of this appeal had been to show off his type, power, counters to weakness, and spinning abilities and Tierno felt that they had managed that as the Close Combat came to an end and Hitmontop bowed to the judges right after coming to a stop to show them that his appeal was over. Tierno too bowed respectfully as he awaited his feedback.
"A strong, dizzying display of the unique style of fighting that Hitmontops are known for from Kalos's dancing coordinator and trainer just as we've come to expect from Tierno." Jillian said as he rose from his bow. "What about our judges? How did they find it?"
"Hitmontop showed his type and the nature of his spinning fighting style that his species is well known for admirably." Mr. Contesta said. "A good highlighting of the core of a Pokémon species there while also showing that he can counter his fairy and psychic type weaknesses pretty well."
"Remarkable." Sukizo said though he did so with a smile, so Tierno took it as a good sign.
"Hitmontop was well balanced and fast which shows how well trained he's been to pull that off." Nurse Joy said. "Good job raising him."
Tierno just smiled, it wasn't as good as he would have liked and a moment later his score reflected that in his mind. It was an 85 so not terrible but still lower than his first score. However, with a total of 172 he was still in the running and the second appeal was a lot harder so should produce a wider range of results. Still, he was nervous and would be watching the rest of the appeals closely as he waited to see if he advanced to the battles.
However, he didn't let that show as he recalled Hitmontop and left the stage as Jillian began to introduce the next coordinator. The wait would be harder for him than the others, but Tierno had sorta expected that. He was a good battler, but his appeals weren't great. He just needed to get through them then he could really go far in the battles where he shined and get that experience for the Lumiose Conference. That was his goal out of the Grand Festival and now he had to wait to see if he'd get that shot as the Kalos Grand Festival continued.
"A good appeal for sure." Jillian said as the person before Serena improved upon her first score but clearly felt that it could be more as she turned and walked back to the wings. "Let's keep that going with one of the Kalos home region favorites herself. It's none other than the Kalos Princess from Vaniville Town, give it up for Princess Serena!"
Serena just smiled and waved to the roaring crowd who were clearly eager to see her next appeal. They were all cheering and ready for it, so Serena wasn't going to disappoint them with it. She was going with what some might see as a strange choice for her appeal, but she felt that she could really show him off in it and she wasn't sure where in the battles he'd be of use so now was the best time for him to show off.
That and she wasn't confident with a 4-move appeal with Sylveon who had been her first choice until she realized that one of Sylveon's moves wasn't great for an appeal so that was why she was taking a slight risk and changing things up. Still, she was certain that she could do well as she reached the starting point and pulled out her Poke Ball because like all her Pokémon he loved to perform so she trusted him to do well in the spotlight like always.
"Pancham, let's go." Serena said tossing her Poke Ball out. "And hit the stage with Stone Edge."
"Pancham." Pancham cried as he spun in the air the moment he was out of his Poke Ball and fell to the ground. "Pan, Pancham."
The moment Pancham landed he struck the ground to create a series of 5 stone spikes that erupted from it in a line before him. This was what Serena was counting on as it allowed him to show off his other moves by using them on the first one, a classic tactic many coordinators used in appeals to really show off their moves and in Serena's case it would work with all 3 of his remaining moves.
"Now leap up and punch the top of the second rock spike with Ice Punch." Serena said. "And push off the punch to get to the fourth pillar for an Arm Thrust to push off it and get high into the air. Show off those acrobatic moves of yours in the process, I know you can do it."
"Pan, Pancham." Pancham said happily as he leapt up with a flip to clear the first stone pillar and come down onto the top of the second one.
Pancham had always loved performing and showing off, it was why Serena had offered him the chance to do it properly by catching him and proving her worth by battling him first, and now he was going to pay that all back as he was the center of attention in this appeal. He was going to give it his all for Serena and the team as his right fist encased in ice and he brought it down onto the top of the second pillar as he fell down towards it.
The Playful Pokémon struck the rock spike right on the top and imparted his Ice Punch into it. Using the force of the impact, he pushed off the rock as it shattered from his Ice Punch and flipped his body gracefully in the air a few times, all his training really paying off as he was able to clear the next rock spike with ease and come down onto the fourth. As he did, he cocked his arm back once more only this time it glowed with fighting type power as Pancham bore down on the next spike.
The moment he reached it, Pancham slammed his Arm Thrust into it just like with the Ice Punch only this was stronger, and he used the impact to push off the rock and get even higher into the air as it crumbled to rubble, flipping in a tight ball as he did. As soon as he was in the air Serena gave the final order to end the appeal and really show it all off as it came together.
"Dark Pulse." Serena said. "Twist and aim for the middle rock and blow them all up."
"Pancham." Pancham said as he came out of his flip twisted 180 degrees in the air and opened his mouth, concentrating all his dark thoughts as he did.
Then, the moment that he was ready, he unleashed his Dark Pulse out and into the center rock, the one between the two he'd destroyed with Ice Punch and Arm Thrust, striking it just below the top of it and blowing, it and the remaining two rocks up in a boom that sent debris and dust everywhere.
However, because Pancham was above it all he wasn't obscured but showed off his black and white fur as he used the explosion to backflip a few times as he flew through the air before he twisted 90 degrees to the side right as he landed a little past the center and sliding a few inches on his feet, arms raised in praise to show that he had done it. The moment he came to a stop, as practiced he was facing the judges, he gave them a bow as Serena matched him with a proper Kalos curtsy to confirm that the appeal was over.
"As expected, a graceful and strong appeal with the showmanship of a freestyle performance that we've come to enjoy from performers who are trying their hands as coordinators like Serena." Jillian said as Serena and Pancham rose and the final of the dust cleared, the debris quickly being sorted out as Jillian spoke. "Judges, your thoughts on that appeal?"
"Pancham really showed his strength and athleticism with those moves as well as the grace of a Pokémon trained for Showcases." Mr. Contesta said with a small nod of his head. "But it was tailored to a Contest appeal showing the crossover we have between our competitions. Well done."
"Simply remarkable." Sukizo said in his pleased tone that never seemed to change so naturally Serena had no idea what he really thought of the appeal.
"Pancham was adorable and its clearly a strong fighting type." Nurse Joy said a smile on her face. "It must train hard to get that, you're raising it well."
Serena just smiled and curtsied again as she looked up to the board while Pancham bowed at the praise he'd just received. She hadn't even finished her curtsy when the score came up, an 89 giving her a total of 180 so one point above Miette, which would really bug her rival, and putting her into 4th place for the moment.
It was a solid place to be and showed her consistency in the Grand Festival which pleased Serena as she recalled Pancham, turned and left the stage as Jillian began to introduce Jessilina who was after her. Serena had given it everything she had and was in a solid place after her two appeals, all she had to do now was wait nervously to see if she made the battles or not. It was going to be a hard wait, but she was ready for it as the Grand Festival stopped for no one.
"One point ahead of her rival there, that's what we call close, and Serena is well within the top 16 at the moment." Jillian said as Jessie controlled herself from scowling at the twerpette doing well though she had scored slightly below her 91 with an 89 this time around but it should advance her which was good enough for Jessie as she was about to beat it and then she could beat Serena in a battle latter on in the Grand Festival. "Next up it's the second of the Big 3 to give us her four-move appeal so give it up for the Maiden of Sinnoh, it's Jessilina!"
Jessie just smiled and waved to the crowd, and blew some kisses, as she walked out the moment Serena had passed her while basking in the praise from her many cheering fans. Jessie lived for this and the adoration she got, she wasn't going to let this support down nor hinder her reputation as Jessilina, she was going to go all out and really show just how good she was as she posted the best individual and overall score of the day.
She knew it would be the case because she had the perfect Pokémon for it as she reached the starting point, pulling out her Poke Ball in the process, and prepared herself. It was time to show the little girls what a fully grown and mature woman could do.
"Gourgeist, come on out and dazzle." Jessie said as she tossed out her Poke Ball. "Begin with Leech Seed."
"Gourgeist." Gourgeist sang as she burst from her Poke Ball, immediately rose into the air and let loose several seeds from her mouth as she did to create a field of seeds that struck the ground.
The moment they did, tall vines rose from where they hit the stage and climbed high into the air from the point of impact. This was just what Jessie was going for, show off power with creation and that would then be destroyed by other moves but unlike most who relied on ice or rock type moves in such appeals for the creation part, Jessie was going to show it off with a grass type move that would really set her apart from the others.
"Now fly over them and strike all of them with Seed Bomb." Jessie said. "Show your accuracy by hitting the bases of the vine pillars my darling."
"Gourgeist." Gourgeist agreed as she shot forward in the air her mouth open and preparing her move as she flew.
The moment she could, she began to unleash the Seed Bombs from her mouth, the same number as seeds from Leach Seed. This was another advantage that Jessie and Gourgeist had in using grass type moves because there were a few like Seed Bomb and Leech Seed that produced several small seeds that combined together for one move. That way Gourgeist could use both moves like this under the rules of the appeal while showing her control of them at the same time as she had to use the exact same number of seeds each time for it to work.
In addition to that, the placing and timing had to be near perfect to destroy most of the base and make the vine pillars topple over but Gourgeist showed her Showcase training with this as she managed it with an elegant grace so that none of the vine pillars hit each other as they began to fall. All this was in line with Jessie's plan, and they were just halfway through the appeal as the vines fell so Jessie gave her next orders to really punch the ending.
"Shadow Ball into the air." Jessie said. "And then Dark Pulse to destroy it."
Gourgeist sang her name at that again before she tilted her head back and unleashed a Shadow Ball from her mouth that soared up high and true. She followed it up with a Dark Pulse, a damned useful move for coordinators as it really did some good destruction at range and as a dark type move on a ghost type one it showed the juxtaposition of the types well. Of course, the key was timing and Gourgeist, thanks to all those Showcases and her bond with Jessie, pulled it off with as close to perfection as you could ask for.
The Dark Pulse shot up after the Shadow Ball so that it struck the ghost type move just as it reached its apex and began to fall back to the ground. The result was a typical explosion that mimicked fireworks and sparked dark purple and black for all to see. At the same time the vines finally crashed to the stage below Gourgeist sending up debris from it, so she was perfectly framed between the two points.
It was just as Jessie had planned and she smiled as Gourgeist descended a bit so that she wasn't too high when the appeal ended but remained in the middle of the destruction as the moves all ended and the debris settled. Only then did she bow her body to the judges that she was now facing as Jessie curtsied properly to them with her homely smile gracing her lips.
"Just as we've come to know from one of the Big 3, a strong, flashy, appeal that was timed well and put the Pokémon at the center of it as Jessilina has shown us time and time again this year on the circuit." Jillian said as the appeal ended. "Judges? What do you say to that?"
"That was a strong appeal that took timing and precision to pull off while showing Gourgeist's types well with the addition of a type strong against it." Mr. Contesta said nodding his head. "A complicated appeal for sure but one that was pulled off at the level we've come to expect from a veteran coordinator who's made it far in a Grand Festival before."
"Yes, remarkable." Sukizo said with a smile that always annoyed Jessie because she had no idea what it meant.
"Gourgeist is clearly well cared for and getting all the nutrients that it needs, it's practically glowing." Nurse Joy said happily. "And it looked so composed and graceful there, well done."
Jessie just smiled at that as she offered another curtsy and recalled Gourgeist for praise later as her score appeared on the board for all to see. It was as expected, and Jessie's smile grew at the 96 posted there. It was a tie for the highest individual score of the day with that brat Brianna, though she'd done it with four moves not two which in Jessie's mind made it better as the four-move appeal was harder, and gave her a score of 190 overall. It was enough to move into second place so far.
It was an all but guaranteed score to advance and Jessie was pleased with it as she left, Meowth and James weeping in joy at her certain advancement in the stands. She'd done what she knew she would and all that was left was for Jessie to watch the rest of the appeals unfold and in a few coordinators have that confirmation that she'd advanced to the battles tomorrow. Then all she had to do was win them and her rightful ascension to the ranks of Top Coordinators would be complete as the Kalos Grand Festival moved to its next stage for her.
"And there is the 34th appeal in the books so we now know what the score is needed to guarantee a spot in the battles is and what you need to beat to remain in the Grand Festival." Jillian said as the person before Shauna didn't get close to what was needed and just walked off and past her dejectedly to no doubt change and leave as he wasn't going to advance. "And the first to go for it is one of the few who can secure her spot right away so give it up for the Appealer from Vaniville, Shauna!"
Shauna smiled and waved to the crowd that roared for her as she walked onto the stage and to the starting point for her second and last appeal of the day. Jillian was right, Shauna needed a 97 or higher to best Brianna's score, 96 to tie it, and become the first to know that she was through, and she was the only one who'd managed a score that high with an appeal back in the Wildcard so she could do it. In fact, if she did best Brianna's score then only Emily remained with a realistic chance of beating her, but Shauna wasn't going to let that happen.
She was going to go all out with her one of her best appeals Pokémon for this and the Poke Ball was already in her hand when she reached the starting point ready to stun the Grand Festival by taking the lead and holding it into the battles. This would ensure that no one underestimate the talents Kalos performers brought to Contests.
"Floette, let's perform." Shauna said sending out her Pokémon with a flourish. "Fly to the middle of the stage and then cover the stage with Dawn Terrain."
Floette let out a cry as she did as instructed and flew to the middle of the stage and activated Dawn Terrain the moment she reached it. The entire ground of the stage was suddenly covered in a fine mist that was about knee height and looked good, the color highlighting Floette and her orange flower as she hovered above it. This was what Shauna was going for and it was time for the next part.
"Petal Blizzard." Shauna said. "And then show off yourself with a Fairy Wind as you fly in it before you rise above it once you're done."
This was the real risk of the appeal, but Shauna could afford to take it after her first appeal, so she was going all out with this one as Floette sang again as she activated her Petal Blizzard and suddenly the stage was covered in a blizzard of, well, flower petals that blew all around and really mixed well with the mist on the bottom to create a beautiful tableau for all to see.
In the center of this was Floette who began to fly a graceful pattern through the blizzard of petals, pink Fairy Mist trailing from her to show her path and her orange flower basically lighting the way as she flew and never once letting a petal touch her body. This was the point of it all, to show her off and if she could be seen as she was being now then with her size it would look really good and should record a high score.
That wasn't counting Shauna's ending which was about to come as Floette finished her Fairy Wind and flew up to break through the top of the Petal Blizzard and hover above it all. Beneath Floette was a roiling mass of petals, pink mist and all over a layer of normal mist at the bottom. The nature of the first two moves allowing the third to stay, be seen thanks to its coloring, and move around clear for all to see and now Shauna was going to end it all in style.
"Moonblast." Shauna said as she raised her hand high above her head. "Just as we practiced."
"Floette." Floette sang as she borrowed the power of the moon.
The biggest advantage of this was that they were in an open-air stadium, so the blast of fairy type power shot down from above the stadium, through the opening, and down to the stage, past Floette highlighting her, and into the mass she'd created as Shauna lowered her hand in time with the blast. It cut a line through the mass Floette had created and then struck the stage and blew up sending mist, Fairy Wind and petals flying everywhere in a chaotic but graceful patter all over the stadium but beneath Floette, so she was still above it all clear for all to see.
The storm lasted a few moments before it settled down, the Moonblast ending the moves and Floette smiling as she floated down in time with the petals falling to hover at eye level above the center of the stage to bob before the judges at the end of her appeal. Shauna gave a proper curtsy at the same time smiling as she finished her appeal and awaited her feedback.
"Yet another graceful appeal in the performance style of Kalos performers that we've come to associate with them when they compete in Contests." Jillian said excitedly. "How do our judges feel about that, though?"
"A good display of Floette's type, grace and power." Mr. Contesta said with a nod. "And she was visible and clear the entire time, not an easy thing to pull off with a Pokémon that small. Well done."
"Simply remarkable." Sukizo said with a broad smile on his face.
"Floette was such a little darling and the way she flew with her flower showed her grace and training as she avoided all those petals." Nurse Joy said. "It was a real treat to watch such a well raised Floette."
Shauna smiled as she offered the judges another curtsy and bowed her head as Floette bobbed her body once again. Shauna hadn't even raised her head to see her score when she heard the crowd first gasp and then burst out in a cheer that almost defended her which really got her attention, so she looked up and her eyes went wide. Her score was there for her to see, it was a 97, the highest of the day and the same as she'd gotten the Wildcard meaning she'd again scored a 192 in her appeals. However, more than that…
"And there it is, the first coordinator to secure a spot in the battles has been determined and it was at the first appeal where it could happen." Jillian said excitedly almost jumping up and down as she spoke. "And in a shock to us all it's not one of the Big 3 but fittingly a Kalos native, a talented performer and a wildcard entrant though she's really showing why she's known as the Appealer from Vaniville because Shauna now tops the board and with only 15 coordinators left to go she's guaranteed her spot in the battles. Congratulations!"
Shauna just blinked at that before she smiled and composed herself as she recalled Floette and turned to leave the stage while the crowd continued to cheer. She'd done it, she'd advanced to the battles and with what could be the top score as only Emily could realistically challenge her for the top spot now.
She wasn't sure how she'd managed it, but she had and now Shauna could wait in peace as headed back to the waiting room to be there for her friends as they waited to see if they would advance or not. She'd moved onto the battles and now she hoped her friends would so that they could join her in the battle round of the first Kalos Grand Festival.
"Things are heating up now as we enter the final stretch of the appeals." Jillian said as the guy before Khoury finished his appeal and walked off a stoic look on his face despite the fact that he'd not done enough to crack the top 16 so would now be heading home. "And next up is another coordinator seeking to advance, if he can replicate his first round then he'll have a really good chance at managing that so give it up for Khoury from New Bark Town."
Khoury just walked out, his eyes and mind focused on the starting point and what his appeal with one of the Pokémon he'd caught in Kanto the year before was going to be. He didn't hear the crowd cheering; he was concentrating on what he had to do to advance, and he fully intended on managing that with this appeal.
In moments he reached the staring point and pulled out his Poke Ball ready for what he had to do. It was time to advance and show Kalos what he could do.
"Dodrio, go." Khoury said throwing his Poke Ball out. "Begin this with Swords Dance as you cross the battlefield to the center with it."
Dodrio cawed as he came out of his Poke Ball and landed before his trainer before he cawed again and then began the frenzied fighting dance that was Swords Dance, moving with a strange but elegant grace and bobbing his three heads as he moved across the battlefield to the center of it as ordered. This would increase his attack and get him in position to show off his moves which would now be stronger when the time came.
That was Khoury's plan for his second appeal, rather than mix moves together or use them to show off others, he was just going to enhance Dodrio's attack power to really show off the moves themselves as well as how good Dodrio looked while performing them. That was his pride as a breeder and the nature of appeals were on the Pokémon and moves so this was how he'd get his points, he just needed Dodrio in a position to really shine. That was the other reason for the Swords Dance and the moment he was in position Khoury gave the order.
"Now Drill Peck." Khoury said. "Show off how strong all three beaks are."
Dodrio cawed at that as he finished his Swords Dance right in the middled of the battlefield and facing the three humans he'd been told would assess his appeal as they'd practiced. That way they'd get a really good sight as he lunged his heads at them, one for each and all three bills spinning with the flying type attack for them to see how strong it was and that he could do it with all his bills. The Swords Dance made it stronger and got him into position for it and set him up for the final combo.
"Now, Jump Kick to the side and then turn and fire a Tri Attack at the center of the stage." Khoury said. "Keep showing your heads off Dodrio."
Dodrio cawed in agreement as he shifted to face the far end of the stage and leapt up and high into the air, leg out to show the strength of his fighting type move as if kicking an opponent that was bigger than he was and standing before him. He then turned in the air as the Jump Kick ended and while still airborne he looked at the center of the battlefield and opened his mouths.
This was the climax of his appeal and one that would look especially good as he had three heads so he could show the move and his unique appearance off at the same time. Tri Attack, three beams of power one that could burn, one that could paralyze, and one that could freeze, shout out of his mouths, one for each of them, and converged on the middle of the battlefield where they impacted it at the same time with a boom. The purpose of this was to show off how he could use all his heads to create the move and really end the appeal in style.
It all happened before Dodrio landed on the stage and slid back a few paces before he trotted forward to the middle to stand on the patch of stage he'd just hit, facing the judges and bowed all his heads to them making sure each one of them was facing one of the three judges so that they all got a bow. At the same time Khoury gave his usual stiff bow and awaited his feedback.
"Well, that was certainly unique and really used the three heads of a Dodrio to show it off there." Jillian said as Khoury rose from his bow and Dodrio raised his heads to meet the eyes of all the judges. "Do our judges think the same as I do with that appeal?"
"Dodrio really showed grace and power while also highlighting its most defining feature in a clever and interesting way by using a move like Tri-Attack to do so." Mr. Contesta said. "Just what we want to see in an appeal as the Pokémon is the focus of one."
"Yes, remarkable." Sukizo said with a smile so as always not really giving Khoury anything to work on as always.
"Dodrio's feathers are amazing, and its beaks well cared for, you can tell that Khoury is a breeder just by looking at how well raised Dodrio is." Nurse Joy said happily. "You've done a great job caring for such a challenging Pokémon to look after."
Khoury just smiled and bowed again, Dodrio bobbing his heads down as well, as he now awaited his score. He needed to be around the same score as his first appeal to secure a spot in the battles, so far 5 coordinators had managed that and that included Shauna, and two of the Big 3 in Brianna and Jessilina, so he was nervous as he rose and saw his score on the board.
The moment he saw it he let out a breath of relief he didn't know that he was holding at the time. He'd not gotten around his first score, he'd matched it with another 91 for a total of 182 and that was enough to slot him into 5th for the moment and that was just where he wanted to be.
He didn't hear Jillian announce that he'd done enough to advance, he was too relieve that he'd managed that as he recalled Dodrio and turned to leave the stage. True, his score had pushed Serena down one so she was still the cut off point for the guaranteed scores that were needed to advance where she'd been when he'd started his appeal but with 10 still to go and a good few going with weaker first appeals scores he was certain that Serena and Miette who was just below her would advance to the battles soon.
That just left Tierno in their group with a nervous wait, Khoury didn't doubt that a Big 3 coordinator like Emily wouldn't advance, especially after her first-round score, so he hurried back to be there for his friend and wait to see who made it. Then it was just a final wait to see who he was facing tomorrow in the battles.
Regardless, he'd done it, he'd advanced in his first Grand Festival, and he couldn't wait to see what the battles would bring. Hopefully all the new friends he'd made this year who were in the Grand Festival as well could join him there as they all became rivals for the first Kalos Ribbon Cup.
"He did it, he advanced!" Lyra exclaimed excitedly leaping up in her seat and startling some of the people near their group as Khoury's combined 182 went up on the board and showed that he was now in 5th place with 10 remaining, so he was safely in the battle round. "He will be in the battles just as I knew he would be."
Lyra was of course right, Khoury had made it to the battles joining Shauna, Brianna, and Jessilina as the ones who the group knew for good, ill or neutral reasons in the pool of coordinators who had advanced. Right now, the next one likely to manage it would be Serena who was in 7th with 180 so one score below her would be enough for her to advance while Miette was one below her in 8th so far at 179 so it was two lower scores, and Miette would be in as well.
They all knew that Emily would likely push them down one but with only one and two respectively of the remaining 10 the two girls were in a good spot. All they had to do was wait for confirmation and they'd be joining the others in the battles.
The only one who wasn't in a good place was Tierno as his 172 wasn't bad, he was in 10th at the moment thanks to some bad second appeals really spreading out the field after the top tier appealers, but he needed 4 out of the 9 remaining when you removed Emily from the equation to advance. As such things were going to be nervous for their group as they watched and other than Lyra's outburst that was now over as she was back in her seat none of them were too keen on saying anything as they watched the remaining appeals in the Grand Festival unfold.
Thankfully they got a breath of relief with the one after Khoury registering a score that did push Tierno down one space but was below Miette's, so Serena was safe and had advanced and now Miette's score was that cut off score for guaranteed advancement. Alas that was a brief false window as the next coordinator's combined score after a strong 93 in the second appeal put him above Khoury's score so Miette was going to have to keep waiting to see if she made it.
That wait lasted one more coordinator though as that one was coming off a bad first score and needed near perfection to get a chance so went all out in the second appeal. Naturally, that didn't happen so Miette was safe as well and now there were 7 left and Tierno couldn't fall more than 5 places or else he'd be out of the Grand Festival.
They all knew that he would drop one more place because of Emily and that one of the remaining scores was so low going into the second appeal that that person was out mathematically out after the 44th person recorded a score that was just above Tierno's. That ensured that all he had to do was avoid slipping three space out of the 5 remaining coordinators who could record a score above his.
In the end he slipped a total of 2 spaces to 13th by the time the 47th coordinator was done and the 48th was the one who had the mathematically impossible score. That meant that he was safe and those close to Tierno, mainly Trevor and May, breathed sighs of relief at his advancement. Now they could sit back and relax as the appeals drew to a close and a few minutes later that would be the case as Emily walked out to close out the first day of the Grand Festival.
She was all but a lock as she needed a 74 or higher to advance so it was more just watching to see how close to Shauna's leading score of 94 she could get with her appeal. Misty was certain that it would be close, so they all eagerly watched as Emily sent out her Klefki for her final appeal and the final one of the first Kalos Grand Festival.
The appeal was a good one as Klefki started off by covering the battlefield with a layer of Fairy Wind, a great appeals move due to its color and properties, that hovered below Klefki. It was also done in a way different to how Shauna had used it, so it helped differentiate Emily's appeal from Shauna's.
That continued as Klefki then gathered all the Fairy Wind up in Psychic and moved it in a graceful pattern around the stage all without obscuring Klefki in the process, which was impressive given the Pokémon's size, but Emily managed to make it work for her thanks to how well polished Klefki was. It almost shone in the center of the Psychic controlled Fairy Wind.
Klefki then followed it was a strong Mirror Shot that showed its gleam and steel type by dispersing the Fairy Wind in an outward explosion that sent it washing over the lower tier of seats much to the crowds delight while the Mirror Shot ensured that all could see Klefki in the process. It also showed that Klefki was in the center of the stage which was clearly where Emily wanted it to be as Klefki finished the appeal there with a Draining kiss in the direction of the judges before Emily bowed to them as Klefki bobbed and showed that she still couldn't curtsy.
It was a strong appeal and the crowd cheered at it and all that they'd seen in the Grand Festival as Jillian praised it before getting the judges' opinions. Mr. Contesta praised the skill and moves that really showed off Klefki's types well while also managing to keep Klefki visible and the center of attention. Sukizo as always found it remarkable which no one was surprised by. Lastly, Nurse Joy found Klefki cute and well-polished showing how much Emily had cared for its steel type and understood the intricacies of raising a Pokémon with a strange body type.
With that the appeals were over, and they waited while Emily bowed again for her final score and thus the final placing of the coordinators in the Grand Festival. Emily's score was a 94, about as high as expected and giving her a total of 189 to finish the appeals 4th.
As such all of their friends had advanced with Tierno the lowest of them in 14th, Miette in 10th, Serena 9th, Khoury 7th, Emily 4th and to the shock of all Shauna taking the top spot with her second 192 of the Grand Festival after posting the same score in the Wildcard. Between her and Emily was Brianna, who had to be furious at Shauna beating her, and Jessilina who were in second and third respectively.
"Well, there it is, the appeals are over, and we have our 16 coordinators who are advancing to the first ever battle round of the Kalos Grand Festival." Jillian said happily as fireworks went off above the stadium and the 16 images of the coordinators appeared on the screen. "And what a day it was. The top appeal score was not from the Big 3 but a Kalos girl and top-level performer who got the highest score the Wildcard as well, we certainly didn't see that coming but that's the beauty of the Grand Festival where the unexpected can, and often does, happen. Two more wildcards have advanced as part of the top 16 showing the chance you get with it."
This got a cheer from the crowd as it showed that the Wildcard was worth it as some who got the chance to qualify through it were now in the battles and really making the most of this opportunity when the competition changed format to the battles tomorrow. The others who'd advanced were several of the favorites and a few notable dark horses with a couple of surprises it seemed, so the battles were going to be good, that was for sure.
"To all those who are going home, you competed well and most of you have the 5 ribbons to come back so we hope to see you again soon while the others we hope you get the needed two ribbons to round out and qualify for the Grand Festival next year as well." Jillian said. "Because we know that in the years to come the Kalos Grand Festival will only get better and better as more coordinators come to try their hand at winning it and hoisting the Ribbon Cup."
Again, the crowd cheered at this but for Ash and his friends they were more focused on the draw. That was the only thing remaining so they would stay for it and then it was down to congratulate their friends and then head back to their lodgings to prepare for the next day of the Grand Festival.
The Grand Festival had started strong with some great appeals and all their friends were still in it, so they all knew that the battles were going to be something else as the stadium fell quiet and awaited the random draw. It was time to see who the first 8 battles of the Kalos Grand Festival would be between.
"And now let us draw the matchups for tomorrow's battles." Jillian said as the 16 images of the coordinators who had advanced flipped over, shuffled and then got dealt into two columns with 8 on one side and 8 on the other and vs. between them and a number to the side from 1 to 8 showing the order in which the battles would take place. "And remember that there is no bracket so all matches will be random draws through the semifinals as the final can't be random. So, let's see who's facing who in tomorrow's battles, shall we?"
The cards flipped over, and they all looked at them to see who they were facing. All of the people in Serena's group and the other two Big 3 had advanced, a total of 8 competitors, so theoretically they could all avoid facing each other until the quarterfinals.
For the most part that was the case but the very first battle of the battle round caused them all to gasp the moment they saw it. One thing was certain, the battles in the Kalos Grand Festival were going to start with a big one that would really set the tone for what was to come as the Grand Festival moved into the battle stage. No one could wait as they digested the battles on the screen and then headed to get ready for them as the first day of the first Kalos Grand Festival came to a close.
