The sun was setting over the bustling city, casting a warm glow on the Pokémon trainers and coordinators who had gathered for the Grand Festival. Among them, Dawn and May were seated in a cozy booth at a bustling buffet restaurant. May filled her plate from the buffet with her typical mountain of food and settled down in the booth, her eyes filled with anticipation. Dawn couldn't help but laugh as she observed her friend's excitement.
"This is what I'm talking about!" May remarked with a chuckle. Dawn giggled in response as she began eating from her more normal-sized plate.
"Crazy mountain of food aside, I wanna hear about how you're planning to do things. Everything besides the preliminaries are doubles so everyone has to get involved." May's smile widened as she leaned in closer.
"I haven't fully decided yet. But I know for sure Glaceon is the opening act," she revealed, smiling down at her partner who was already eating some Pokemon food along with Dawn's Piplup.
"Never a bad move to open with someone you trust," Dawn agreed with a smile.
"Hey, I trust all my girls," May replied, laughter in her voice as Dawn smiled warmly.
"Yeah, yeah. But only one of them stays outside with you. I'm the same way with Piplup." May nodded, understanding the sentiment, and began eating as well. "Anyway, you told me all your rivals are going to be here, right?"
"Sure are," May confirmed.
"I can't wait to finally meet them in person!" Dawn exclaimed, her excitement palpable. May chuckled in response, but before she could say more, an unexpected presence made itself known. A voice whispered near May's ear, sending shivers down her spine.
"My ears were burning…" the voice said, and May let out a startled scream. Dawn flinched in surprise, her eyes wide as well. Then, the mysterious voice revealed itself to be Harley, who had sneaked up on them somehow. May trembled slightly, her voice trembling as she addressed the eccentric coordinator.
"H-Harley…?" Harley laughed in response, a mischievous grin on his face.
"The one and only! Though if you keep changing that look of yours all the time, no one's gonna know who you are, hun!" he responded, looking over May's new outfit with a look that made the brunette gulp nervously. After finishing his inspection of her new outfit, Harley continued his banter by turning his gaze to the rest of the table's occupants. "Who's your little friend?" he inquired, his eyes locking on Dawn.
"This is Dawn…" May introduced her with a forced smile. Harley examined Dawn for a moment before a playful smirk crossed his face.
"Another competitor, huh? You'd do best to find another mentor, sweetie. May's not even making it through the preliminaries this year." Dawn, feeling slightly uneasy, sweatdropped.
"I'm not competing this year...but I'd still put my money on May to win." May appreciated Dawn's support and, remembering her recent commitment to changing her attitude, she took a deep breath and filled herself with her newfound courage.
"You know, Harley, I plan on winning it all this year. And quite frankly, if you keep trying to rig the competitions, you're gonna end up banned someday." she smirked at Harley. The purple-haired man theatrically gasped in response.
"May darling, the very accusation!" despite his game, however, May didn't back down.
"I'm sorry, which one of us tried to blow up the stage from beneath the other's feet?" Dawn, who was still trying to process this dramatic exchange, widened her eyes in surprise at this comment.
"Oh, those boy toys of yours would've said anything to make you feel better about almost losing. Besides," Harley retorted, his smirk never fading. "No proof is no proof." May, unimpressed, shifted her expression.
"That's rich coming from someone who's never beaten me in a festival." Harley couldn't resist the challenge, causing him to get right into May's face.
"Just you wait, girly. You're going down and going down hard this year." he taunted her.
"That's right. I'm going down in history as the winner of the Grand Festival!" May declared confidently, causing Harley to scoff.
"You wish!" May, however, remained undeterred.
"You're old news, Harley." She smirked. "This is my story. And you're not part of it." Genuinely insulted this time, Harley growled at the young girl.
"Why you little…!" however before he could finish his insult, their conversation was interrupted as a new figure approached. May's oldest rival, known for his elegance and skills as a Coordinator, joined them.
"Drew?" May asked in surprise once she noticed his presence.
"Boy, you two make a lot of noise." Drew commented with a hint of amusement. Dawn tilted her head in curiosity, and May greeted Drew with a warm smile. He nodded in acknowledgment of May and glanced briefly at Harley. "You can leave now." he blew off the older Coordinator before turning his attention back to May.
"Ug! You two aren't worth my time anyway!" Harley huffed irritably before he proceeded to exit the scene. May couldn't help but blink in surprise as she watched Harley leave. But then she decided to ignore him and focus her attention on Drew.
"Hi, Drew. It's great to see you again."
"Good to see you too. Decided to change things up?" he wondered, gesturing to her new outfit.
"Oh. Yeah, I did. You know with the Grand Festival being as big an event as it is an all." she replied.
"Of course." he nodded. "It looks good on you."
"Oh…thank you." May replied, to stop a small blush from heating up her cheeks. Seeing this, Dawn cleared her throat, reminding them both of her presence as well. "Oh right! Drew this is my friend, Dawn Berlitz."
"I remember you from last year's Wallace Cup. Nice to meet you." Drew answered, offering the bluenette a polite handshake. Dawn accepted and replied back.
"Nice to finally meet you too. May has told me so much about you."
"Good things I hope."
"Of course they were good!" May argued with a roll of her eyes. Drew chuckled to himself.
"Good. Then, for now, I'll leave you ladies to your meal." he said. However, before he left, he pulled a blooming red rose from his pocket and gently passed it into May's hand. "I look forward to seeing you go far this year May."
"H-Huh?" she asked. Drew however didn't respond and instead just headed off on his way, leaving both girls watching. "What was that supposed to mean…?"
"Sounds to me like he wants to meet you in the finals. You told me he was your very first rival, right?" Dawn chimed in, trying to interpret the situation. May nodded in affirmation as her friend continued. "From what I've seen, you always want to face your biggest rival in your biggest matches. I hope to do the same again someday with Zoey after all. And I'm sure he wants another chance to beat you anyway."
"He did that plenty back in Johto..." May scratched her head, reflecting on their rivalry.
"So? He's got something of a reputation in the Contest World too. So for him to consider you an equal rival is saying a lot." Dawn pointed out. May acknowledged this with a nod.
"Well, there's also his not-so-secret crush on me..." she reminded her friend, to which Dawn chuckled softly.
"There is that. But even knowing about that, you're still sure of who you're really interested in, I take it?"
"Definitely." May replied confidently, Dawn smiled, her eyes happy for her friend.
"Then focus on him. After all part of this win is for him right?" May nodded, appreciating Dawn's advice.
"Yeah. Thanks, Dawn." Dawn's smile widened, and she giggled.
"Well anyway, that's two down." May's smile returned and she laughed along with her friend.
"Yeah. Two others are somewhere in town. Something tells me we'll see them. Everyone's arriving today, after all."
"Then we can worry about them later. For now, let's finish eating!" Per that instruction, both girls went back to enjoying their meal, the conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with laughter and anticipation for the upcoming Grand Festival. After finishing her massive plate, May eagerly declared her intent as she stood up from her seat.
"Alright! Now onto round 2!" Dawn chuckled, appreciating May's enthusiasm.
"And that's why I picked a buffet." May joined in the laughter, and the two friends continued to enjoy their evening together.
As the night progressed, the stars began to twinkle in the sky, casting a soft glow over the city. The restaurant was gradually emptying, signaling the end of their meal. They paid their bill and began the casual walk back to their hotel room.
"Hey, May," Dawn said. "I can help you practice in the morning before the opening ceremonies if you want." May considered the offer carefully, knowing the risks involved.
"I don't know Dawn. I don't have a lot of time to get dressed and ready before I have to be backstage for check-in." she pointed out, a hint of concern in her voice. "I do gotta get to the stadium early."
"How early?" Dawn inquired.
"Early enough to be fully dressed before the first appeals start in the morning." May revealed,
"I suppose with all the Coordinators they have to get through the preliminary round, they do start pretty early." Dawn acknowledged the challenge. "Well then, how about we wait until after you kick some butt?"
"Heh. You got yourself a deal." May chuckled, understanding the importance of maintaining her image and keeping her new style a secret for as long as possible. The two girls nodded in agreement as they entered the hotel lobby. May looked around briefly at all the other Coordinators settling in for the night and she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness about the competition. She was determined to make a mark at this year's Grand Festival, especially with her new style. However, her thoughts were soon interrupted by a familiar voice calling out to her.
"Hey, May!" the voice exclaimed, and May turned to see a fellow Coordinator and friend waving as she ran toward Dawn and herself.
"Marina!" May greeted her with a warm hug, thrilled to see a familiar face. Marina returned the hug enthusiastically.
"So good to see you! I can't believe it's finally time for another Grand Festival!" May chuckled at the comment as they pulled away from the embrace.
"It's certainly felt like it all went by in a flash." May chuckled as Marina beamed with excitement.
"I'm so glad to have everyone here! This is going to be so much fun!" May giggled, sharing Marina's enthusiasm.
"Definitely." Marina's attention then shifted to Dawn.
"Oh hi! I know you; you're Dawn!" she extended her friendly greetings. Dawn's eyes widened in surprise.
"You know who I am?!"
"Of course she does. We're not the only ones with a reputation, Dawn." May chimed in, playfully teasing Dawn.
"She's right! I always like knowing about the Coordinators that are causing waves with the fans!" Marina chuckled, confirming May's statement. Dawn blushed softly, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the recognition.
"I mean come on Dawn. You got to the Finals in your first Grand Festival. I didn't even do that." May praised her friend.
"She's right. Don't sell yourself short." Marina nodded in agreement.
"Thank you both." Dawn smiled gratefully, appreciating their support. May couldn't help but smile back, proud of her friend's achievements. Marina's excitement was infectious as she continued the conversation.
"I can't wait to compete against you someday. But for now," she turned to May, "word on the street is you've picked up some real steam."
"I definitely have. That's why I'm going for a completely new style. Unlike anything I've done before" May shared a knowing smirk with Marina.
"Well, you look great already. Very you." Marina smiled, intrigued by May's plans.
"Thank you." May blushed modestly, grateful for the compliment.
"I can't wait to see what you've come up with. I'm dying for another battle." Marina squealed, unable to hide her curiosity.
"It'll be worth the wait. I promise you." May promised with confidence.
"That's the spirit!" Marina cheered.
"You bet." May smirked, her determination shining through. Dawn, observing their lively exchange, suddenly had a realization, remembering some of her earlier conversations with May.
"Oh! May, you should talk to Marina about your idea." she reminded the brunette. This caused Marina's curiosity to become piqued, and she questioned the younger Coordinator.
"What idea?" May hesitated for a moment, considering whether to reveal her plans.
"But that'd be a spoiler for tomorrow..."
"You don't have to reveal everything, but remember Marina knows a lot about 'giving back to the fans.' You could get some tips." Dawn encouraged her, teasingly winking. May chuckled nervously and finally relented.
"You do have a point. Alright."
"Great! You two talk and I'll see you soon." Dawn winked before running off, leaving May to explain her idea to Marina.
"So what's all this about an idea?" Marina asked. May felt a bit anxious but nevertheless, after taking a calming breath, she began to share her thoughts with Marina.
"Well, I've just been thinking lately about all the fans I've gotten back home and even here, that I'd really like to…I don't know do more with this whole "Princess of Hoenn" title I've acquired." May explained.
"Do more like what?"
"Well…I have this new dress I'm going to wear tomorrow and I've been toying with the idea of maybe selling it to other Coordinators after the Grand Festival is over." the Hoenn Coordinator continued. Marina, who had experience with such matters, nodded thoughtfully.
"This is a new dress you got?"
"Yeah. I even helped design it. Well, to an extent that is." May affirmed Marina's understanding. Marina was intrigued and inquired further.
"You collaborated with a designer then?"
"Lila of Celestic Town." May confirmed. At that, Marina's eyes lit up with recognition.
"Oh, I've heard about her! Wow, that's great!" May couldn't help but smile, appreciating Marina's enthusiasm. "So, if I'm reading this right, you're thinking about building a brand?"
"Maybe..." May hesitated, pondering the implications of such a decision.
"That's really cool, May." Marina encouraged her with a warm smile.
"I guess I was just hoping to hear what you think since you've built a brand yourself with your fame. So, as someone who's 'made it', what do you think I should do?"
"Heh, I don't know about the classification, but I can tell you that having merchandise of your own is a great way to connect with your fans." Marina began to share her own experiences.
"Yeah?" May wondered. She hadn't even considered the idea of connecting more with fans before. Marina nodded, her conviction unwavering as she continued.
"Absolutely. I remember when I started. Right after my first Grand Festival win, I got approached by the Poketch company to model their new versions of the Poketch. During the shoot, a crowd started to form to watch, and afterward, I got to meet some young fans and chat with them for a bit. Hearing about how they were inspired by my work and how hard they were working on bettering themselves and their Pokémon—that was when I realized that when you reach that point, you have an obligation to use it to help others." May listened attentively, realizing the potential impact of her decisions. "And giving them something to aspire to keeps them working hard and getting better."
"Whoa…" May whispered under her breath.
"Yup." Marina nodded. "Sometimes the best thing you can be is the hero they see you as. And by building a brand with the merchandise deals I was getting, I got to connect with them all on that level again."
"I certainly never thought about merchandise that way..." May mumbled, beginning to understand the significance of her choices as the conversation continued.
"I know that it can seem like you're just boasting or bragging when you do that kind of stuff, but you can really have the exact opposite effect on a fan." Marina offered a bit more insight. May reflected on Marina's words, realizing the potential for a positive impact. Noticing the still uncertain look on her face, Marina offered her one more comment. "I mean, think about it like this. When you were designing your new dress, you mentioned wanting to be a whole new style of May, right?"
"Yeah." May agreed.
"It could one day mean the very same thing to another Coordinator—the one who's had a string of bad luck lately and is in need of a confidence boost. And then they find out they can find some of that confidence by owning something made by their favorite famous Coordinator. That kind of thing would mean the world to them." Marina emphasized. May smiled softly, feeling a sense of purpose growing within her. The very idea of potential inspiration her influence and fame could provide to others and even young Coordinators just made her so happy.
"You make it sound so meaningful." she said softly.
"No doubt that it's a ton of work, but if you do it right, it's so amazing." Marina encouraged her.
"Well, if I were to go for it, do you have any advice for doing it right?" the brunette wondered.
"Some. For starters, since you'll also be the face of the company, you'll definitely need someone to work with you. Trying to build a company alone and always making public appearances will run you ragged in a month. You'll need a partner that can help you out with the behind-the-scenes work." Marina pointed out.
"Oh. That makes sense." May nodded, realizing the importance of collaboration. Marina's enthusiasm shone through as she continued.
"And always have fun of course!" May chuckled, recognizing the wisdom in Marina's words.
"Heh...I think I can do that part." she assured her blue-haired friend.
"Trust me. The moment it starts to become unfun, take a break. You can't let the stress take you over." Marina stressed to her.
"You got it..." May replied, appreciative of Marina's candid advice.
"And winning a Grand Festival to boost your popularity never hurts," the Johto native Coordinator added with a wink.
"Heh. You say that like you want me to win. I hope that doesn't mean you'll be going easy on me." May playfully questioned Marina's motives.
"I think it'd be great if you did win, but there's no way I'm going easy on you. You gotta earn Top Coordinator like the rest of us." Marina clarified her stance with a smile.
"I'll do my best." May nodded, accepting the challenge ahead. Marina smiled proudly, hugging May once more.
"I'm just so proud of you!" May returned her hug with a smile.
"Thanks for talking with me Marina. You've given me a lot of good things to think about."
"My pleasure! Just don't let it all distract you from doing your best tomorrow!" Marina smiled warmly, reminding May of her responsibility.
"I won't." May laughed. With that said, the two friends shared one more hug, and then they parted ways, with May heading back to her room. After that chat, she could feel her heart fill with determination and strength. She could do this. She was going to do this. And it all started tomorrow.
To be Continued...