As May returned to the waiting room backstage, a familiar voice called out to her, and Marina sprinted over. Her eyes sparkled with unbridled enthusiasm.

"May!"

"Marina!" May gasped, relieved to see her friend's encouraging presence.

"That was an amazing battle! Wow!" the bluenette exclaimed. May managed a tired but genuine smile, her eyes revealing the intensity of the contest she had just emerged from.

"Thanks, Marina," May replied with a faint, victorious grin. "She really had me on the ropes there." Right on cue, Solidad walked in and joined the conversation.

"But you found your way through with amazing moves," Solidad praised a gentle nod of respect accompanying her words. Marina, always the effervescent cheerleader, couldn't contain her excitement.

"I'll say!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with admiration and her face glowing with pride.

"No doubt! I can't wait to battle you next!" Kenny chimed in, unable to contain his excitement for his upcoming turn in the spotlight. Drew's cool composure never wavered.

"First things first, Kenny," Drew reminded, his tone lighthearted but competitive.

"Good luck to both of you," May said with a soft, encouraging smile. Kenny, not wanting to waste a second, turned and dashed off, eager to prepare for his upcoming performance. With a soft chuckle, Drew followed him out, leaving May with Marina and Solidad.

"Awesome! And the winner battles you!" Marina reminded May, her voice filled with infectious enthusiasm. May let out a resigned sigh, her eyes cast downward for a moment before meeting Marina's gaze.

"I know…" she admitted her voice a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. Marina didn't seem to notice, however.

"That's so cool!" she cheered, her enthusiasm undiminished. May, however, couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety that had crept into her thoughts. She pushed those worries aside for now however and turned to Marina, speaking candidly.

"And lucky you. You get to battle another Top Coordinator," May mused, her brow glistening with perspiration.

"I know! It'll be awesome!" she squealed, stunning May with her enthusiasm rather than apprehension at the idea of battling another Top Coordinator.

"Wish I had your enthusiasm. I'm nervous over here," May admitted, revealing the vulnerability beneath her strong exterior. Marina looked at her and was genuinely puzzled.

"How come?" she inquired, curious about May's doubts. May, her voice wavering, opened up about her concerns and fears.

"This has been the fiercest competition I've ever seen in any Contest," May confessed, the weight of the experience heavy in her voice. Marina wasn't fazed, however.

"So? I think that's the best way to do it!" Marina countered, her belief in the power of fierce competition unshaken.

"Easy for you to say, Miss Two-Time Top Coordinator. I just barely came out over Solidad. If I make it to the finals, gotta battle another Top Coordinator no matter what... And Drew is no slouch..." May's voice trailed off, her mind filled with the daunting prospect of facing even tougher challenges.

"So? We're all Coordinators just like you. And in case you haven't noticed, you're no slouch either," Marina reminded her friend, her words sincere and uplifting. May blushed softly, touched by Marina's words.

"Thanks, Marina..." May murmured, her confidence slowly returning.

"It doesn't matter what we've done before. Because, as you well know, anything can happen in a Contest battle." Marina reminded her. May couldn't help but smile, her spirits lifted by Marina's unwavering support.

"I hope you're right…thanks, Marina." Both girls smiled at one another and then looked to the monitor to watch the upcoming battle.

On stage, both Drew and Kenny took their positions in the trainers' boxes on either side of the field. In the center of the stage, Marian turned towards the digital countdown timer on the large screen in the stadium and spoke out to the audience.

"We've got 5 minutes on the clock! Let's go!" she announced.

"Flygon! Houndoom! Help me out!" Drew called as he swiftly tossed his Pokéballs into the air, releasing his trusted partners onto the battlefield. Houndoom landed gracefully on the ground, his fiery presence adding intensity to the match. Flygon, with wings spread wide, hovered above the stage, ready to take flight at a moment's notice. Kenny, equally determined, stepped forward, his own pokéballs in hand.

"I'm counting on you, Empoleon, and Alakazam!" With a flick of his wrist, he released his chosen allies to join the fray. Empoleon landed with a powerful thud, its steel body glistening with determination. Alakazam descended, spoons in hand, and spun gracefully in preparation for the battle. Drew didn't waste a moment and called his first attack.

"Flygon, use Sandstorm!" With a flap of its wings, Flygon stirred up a fierce funnel of sand, directing it toward Kenny's Pokémon.

"Alakazam, use Teleport to get you guys out of there!" In a flash, Alakazam teleported both Empoleon and itself out of the path of the sandstorm, narrowly avoiding the attack and appearing behind Drew's Pokemon. "Empoleon, Hydro Cannon!" Kenny ordered, seizing the opportunity to strike.

"Poleon!" Empoleon cried out as he unleashed a powerful blast of water aimed at Drew's Pokémon.

"Dodge it!" Drew countered. Houndoom, displaying exceptional agility, leaped onto Flygon's back, while Flygon ascended, narrowly avoiding the Hydro Cannon's onslaught. "Now, use Steel Wing, Flygon! Houndoom, use Crunch!"

"Fly!" Flygon acknowledged. Soon sporting wings of steel, Flygon dove straight at Empoleon, who struggled to regain his composure after the Hydro Cannon. Meanwhile, Houndoom leaped from Flygon's back and bit down fiercely on Alakazam at the same moment Flygon collided with Empoleon. The impacts were intense as Empoleon cried out in pain while Alakazam writhed under the unrelenting grip of Houndoom.

"No!" Kenny gasped. Drew capitalized on the moment and called his next move.

"Sandstorm again, Flygon!" After a fierce flapping of Flygon's wings, the Sandstorm reappeared, engulfing Kenny's Pokémon in a tumultuous swirl of sand. "Houndoom, Flamethrower!"

"Doom!" Houndoom barked, responding by launching a searing Flamethrower attack into the heart of the sandstorm, turning the entire thing into a fiery vortex that damaged both of Kenny's Pokemon severely.

"Alakazam, Hidden Power!" Kenny yelled, refusing to back down. Alakazam's spoons glowed with energy as it pointed them toward the vortex of sand, attempting to burst through with powerful orbs of energy. But Drew was ready for the strategy.

"Snarl now!" With no fear whatsoever, Houndoom dove headfirst into the firey sandstorm, launching a Snarl attack directly at Alakazam. The Psychic-type Pokémon cried out in pain and fell backward, his focus shattered. Kenny however, saw a new opportunity Drew had presented.

"Hydro Cannon quick Empoleon!" Empoleon, finally noticing Houndoom's proximity, took the opportunity and blasted Houndoom backward with a point-blank Hydro Cannon. The super-effective hit knocked Houndoom out of the funnel and back to Drew's side of the stage, finally dissipating the sandstorm funnel. But Drew was still relentless.

"Dragonbreath, Flygon!" Flygon swooped in and exhaled a blazing Dragonbreath, intensifying the pressure on Kenny's team as they both were caught up in the attack and forced back once more.

May and Marina watched in awe from the waiting room backstage. Neither one of them was able to look away from the battle on the monitors.

"Man... Drew's not giving Kenny any room to react..." May commented.

"Stop them from forming a rhythm, and you can control the battle." Marina nodded in agreement.

"No kidding..." May mumbled. She had almost forgotten how expertly Drew could control a Contest battlefield.

Back on the stage, the battle raged on, each trainer pushing their Pokémon to the limits, determined to come out on top in this epic clash of skills and strategies.

"Houndoom, get ready!" Drew called out. Houndoom nodded in acknowledgment. His entire body began to crackle with intense heat, ready to unleash a powerful attack. His fiery aura grew more intense by the second as Kenny's Pokemons struggled to get up after being slowed down by Flygon's Dragonbreath earlier. "Cover with Sandstorm, Flygon!"

"Gon!" Flygon responded as he launched a wide funnel of sand that swept across the battlefield, shrouding both Pokémon in its whirlwind once more. The fierce sandstorm battered the combatants, sending them spinning in its furious vortex. But Drew was far from finished. With a swift command, he set his plan in motion.

"Now, Houndoom, Flamethrower!" Houndoom responded with an echoing howl, but this was no ordinary Flamethrower. Instead of a straight stream of fire from his mouth, bursts of flames erupted from Houndoom's body in every direction, creating a spectacular display of fiery power that enveloped the stage.

"What the!?" Kenny was taken aback by the unexpected twist. He and his Pokémon were caught off guard by the unconventional attack as Houndoom's fire poured into the funnel of the Sandstorm and landed several powerful blows. Chaos began to cover the battlefield and all the while Flygon, with his remarkable grace and agility, managed to dodge and weave through the flames. Once the chaos seemed finally settle, Kenny and the crowd saw Alakazam lying motionless on the stage, fainted by the force of the assault.

"And with amazing swiftness, Drew and his team have taken out Kenny's Alakazam!" Marian's voice echoed through the stadium. The crowd roared with excitement at the impressive display of battling prowess. Dawn, seated up in the stands, couldn't help but feel a pang of worry.

"Don't give up, Kenny!" she cheered. Empoleon, battered and struggling to regain his footing, looked up at his trainer, assuring him that he could still go on. Kenny clenched his fists and gave a resolute command.

"Drill Peck, Empoleon!" Empoleon charged ahead, preparing to jump back into the fray. But Drew was too quick for them.

"Steel Wing, Flygon!" Flygon darted forward with impressive speed, dipping its steel-winged appendage slowly and aiming for Empoleon's legs.

"Jump!" Kenny called desperately. Empoleon obeyed and leaped into the air, successfully dodging Steel Wing before spinning and thrusting his beak toward Flygon. The attack landed and Flygon cried out in pain as he was hit. However, Drew was far from done with this move.

"Get in there, Houndoom!" Houndoom charged into the fray, leaping onto Empoleon from behind and grabbing him with fiery determination. Empoleon, in the midst of the chaos, struggled and squirmed in an attempt to throw Houndoom off him. Houndoom however remained locked in position with his claws dug in.

"Flash Cannon!" Kenny tried again. Empoleon began charging energy with steely resolve, prepared to release its powerful attack. But Drew's Houndoom was faster.

"Crunch now, Houndoom!" Houndoom clamped down hard on Empoleon's wing, preventing him from executing his move. The combined efforts of Drew and his Pokémon were overwhelming, and Kenny's points rapidly dropped to zero. A buzzer sounded and Kenny gasped in disbelief as he realized the battle was suddenly over.

"That's it! Kenny's points have dropped to zero! Which means moving on to the semi-finals is... Drew!" Marian declared. The crowd cheered wildly as Drew and his triumphant Pokémon took a bow, acknowledging the cheers of the crowd. Dawn watched with a sense of unease, while Kenny, his disappointment evident, approached Empoleon. The Water-type gazed at Kenny with an apologetic look, and Kenny couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.

"You were great out there," he whispered, hugging his loyal partner. Together, they left the stage, leaving Dawn to make her way to the hallways, contemplating what lay ahead in her own journey.

As the excitement of Drew's victory still lingered in the air, May and Marina exchanged thoughts from their seats in the stands.

"Man..." May whispered softly, stunned by how easily Drew seemed to win the battle. Marina nodded in agreement, still catching her breath.

"That was so intense!" May could tell Kenny was taking it hard and she knew Dawn probably was too. So she couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy for them.

"Poor Kenny..."

"Still, considering this is only his second Grand Festival, he did really well. I think he'll go really far with a bit more experience." Marina pointed out.

"Yeah... I agree." May replied, her face brightening a little at the comment.

Meanwhile, Dawn, who had been anxiously searching the bustling hallways, finally spotted Kenny. She ran over to him with an encouraging smile, her voice filled with warmth.

"Kenny!" Kenny turned to face Dawn and managed a weak smile.

"Hey, Dawn..."

"You and Empoleon were so great. I'm sorry about the loss..." she expressed her heartfelt admiration. Kenny simply shrugged with a hint of resignation.

"Guess Drew was just better..."

"He's been doing this a long time... but that doesn't mean you weren't amazing!" Dawn countered, determined to lift his spirits. Kenny's smile grew a little more genuine, but before he could thank her, suddenly Dawn hugged him and caught him by surprise, making him blush at the sudden closeness. Dawn maintained her smile, her voice soft and reassuring. "Maybe this time... you stay and watch with me?"

"H-huh...?" Kenny stammered in response.

"The rest of the competition. You left so quickly last year, that we didn't really get any time to talk... I'd like it if we could watch together." she explained. Kenny's blush deepened as he struggled to find his voice again.

"S-sure." Dawn continued to smile at him, and neither one of them seemed to notice May and Marina watching the budding connection between the two them nearby.

"Aww!" May whispered to Marina.

"They're so crushing hard on each other!" Marina replied with a giggle.

"Let's give them space. Besides, your battle is up next." May reminded her friend as she nudged Marina down the hall.

"Oh, fine. Wish me luck!" With that, she dashed off, eager to battle Robert and continue her journey in the Grand Festival. May watched her go and offered her well wishes quietly.

"Good luck..."

After saying goodbye to Kenny to let him change, Dawn, still brimming with enthusiasm, ran over to May and embraced her. May was taken by surprise, her voice tinged with the same emotion.

"Eep!"

"Congratulations!"

"Thanks, Dawn..." May smiled, her nervousness beginning to subside a little.

"That last attack you did with the fire vortex was so cool!" Dawn's excitement bubbled over as she continued. "And you're going to be going up against your oldest rival! That's so great!"

"Right..." May's cheeks flushed with a hint of embarrassment.

"Then it's on to the finals where you kick some serious butt!" Dawn's infectious enthusiasm continued.

"You should put on your cheerleading dress with that attitude." May teased her friend with a chuckle. Dawn's eyes seemed to sparkle at the idea.

"Don't tempt me! I'll be even louder with it on!" May laughed, knowing that Dawn's support was unwavering.

"Well, I did say you could be my hype man."

"Now there's an idea!" Dawn gasped, seeming to take the notion seriously. "Would you be ok with that?"

"Do what you gotta do." May chuckled.

"Deal! Good luck and see you soon!" With a determined grin, Dawn ran off to find Kenny, eager to put her idea into motion. May watched her friend's departure with a fond smile, appreciating the excitement of her best friend. At the same time, Dawn rounded a corner, Drew crossed paths with her, noticing her enthusiasm as he walked over to May.

"Dawn at it again?" he asked.

"Yep." May nodded with a hint of amusement.

"Then I guess the crowd will be quite loud for your next match." he chuckled.

"Guess so. There are worse things though." she agreed. She then turned her attention to the screen, her nerves tingling as the semifinals loomed ahead. The tension in the air was palpable as they both watched the final moments of Marina's match. Soon enough, Marian's voice rang out through the stadium.

"That's it! Time's up! Moving on to the semi-finals will be... Marina!" she declared. The crowd erupted in cheers as Marina jumped happily and hugged her Pokémon, her excitement contagious to them all it seemed. May couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions as she watched. She turned to Drew, her uncertainty showing.

"Man... I don't know if that makes me more or less nervous..." she commented.

"She's good. But she has weaknesses just like the rest of us." Drew reassured her with a calm and confident tone. May's thoughts were filled with the challenge ahead.

"This means the finalist is either going to be a two-time Top Coordinator I've never beaten, or another Coordinator who beats her...definitely not the best odds..." she sighed. Drew brushed his bangs from his eyes and suddenly offered her a rose from his sleeve.

"I hope that doesn't mean you only see Top Coordinators as a threat these days." he hinted, making May blush slightly as she accepted the rose.

"Definitely not...I know there's one more thing to do before I even get to that challenge." she assured him.

"Good. Because I'm very curious to see how the 'new May' takes on her old rival." he continued. May looked into his eyes with determination and nodded.

"So am I..."

"Then I'll see you on stage." Drew nodded in return, acknowledging the challenge ahead.

"Yeah... I'll see you on stage..." May echoed his sentiment with a sense of focus. Drew headed off to prepare for his next battle, leaving May to take a deep breath and gather her thoughts.

After another few hours had passed, the moment of truth had arrived at the Grand Festival. Marina had easily won her semi-final match not long ago and now the stage was set for the second semi-final match. Marian stepped into the center of the stage and her voice resonated through the stadium, electrifying the atmosphere.

"200 Coordinators have to be whittled down to just our Top 4! And one of them will be taking home the title of Top Coordinator!" Marian declared, her voice filled with excitement. "Which means it's time for the second of our two semi-final matches! Joining Marina in the finals will it be... Drew?! Or will it be... May?!"

"Woo! Go May!" Dawn, her cheerleading spirit in full gear, shook her pom-poms enthusiastically. Kenny blushed in embarrassment as he sat next to her in the stands, now dressed in an outfit similar to Dawn's after she had pestered him to do so. May, resolute and determined, took her spot at the end of the field. Drew, her formidable rival, stood opposite her, his presence exuding confidence.

"We've got 5 minutes on the clock! And begin!"

To be Continued...