A few days later, May was back at the Pokémon Center. She had been working hard on putting the finishing touches on her Grand Festival performance routine as well as helping Lila put the last pieces of the dress together. Glaceon's accessories had been finished the same day she had gotten her ears pierced so Lila had allowed her to take those with her while May's dress was being finished. May had wanted to keep the whole thing a big surprise for the Grand Festival, but she had gotten so excited by this point that she just had to tell someone. So she was currently on her Pokenav Match Call feature and was dialing up Dawn's Xtranreciever number. After a few rings, Dawn picked up at her campsite near Foretree City.
"Hello?" she asked. May smiled as her friend's image came up on the video call, making sure that she herself was hiding her ears for the moment.
"Yooooou whoooo!" she greeted, making Dawn smile.
"Hey, May! How are you?!" the Sinnoh native Coordinator questioned her. May simply giggled excitedly instead of answering her. "Working hard? The Grand Festival is next week right?" again, all the response she got was May giggling. "May what's up with you?"
"A lot actually." she finally answered.
"What's going on?"
"Well...I took your advice." May finally revealed, catching Dawn's attention.
"You went to Lila's shop? That's great!" she exclaimed.
"It sure has been. We've been working on making a brand new outfit from scratch." May explained with a grin. Dawn loudly gasped on the other end of the phone.
"You what?!"
"Mhmm." May snicked excitedly. "Completely new style. We even worked on the mini scale so Glaceon would match!"
"Wait wait wait wait! You worked WITH the world-famous Lila and designed a dress?!" Dawn yelled.
"Sure did!" May giggled as she waved over to her partner, who was taking a breather on a nearby couch. "Glaceon, come here."
"Coming." Glaceon yawned as she then ran over. May smiled and picked her up, keeping her just out of the frame of the camera for a moment as she addressed Dawn again.
"This is an exclusive sneak peek you hear? No telling anyone."
"So I can't tell the Hoenn news stations?" Dawn smiled teasingly.
"Dawn."
"I won't I won't. Just show me!"
"Alright. Here she is." May smiled as she proceeded to hold up Glaceon to the camera, revealing her ear bow, collar bow, skirt, and paw sleeves.
"Whoa!" Dawn gasped.
"Isn't she gorgeous?" May smiled.
"Absolutely beautiful!" Dawn agreed as Glaceon smiled proudly. "I can't believe Lila actually worked with you! She's never collaborated on a project since she designed an outfit for Wallace!"
"Really?" May wondered, blushing slightly as she realized what Dawn was implying. Wallace was the cream of the crop in the Contest World. And if it had been that long since Lila had collaborated with a Coordinator on an outfit, then this whole situation was an even bigger deal than she thought. Did Lila really see that much potential in her? Realizing that she had gone quiet on Dawn, May shook those thoughts from her head for now and continued on with her news. "Yeah well anyway...there's another big surprise."
"What is it?!" Dawn demanded. May giggled and then gently brushed her hair from her face, teasing one of the earrings just underneath it. "What is that?!" Dawn yelled before gasping as she realized. "Did you...?!"
"I did." May laughed as she set Glaceon back down. "Remember. This is just a sneak peeeeak." she then pushed her hair out of the way and revealed the earrings in full to Dawn.
"Oh my gosh, you actually got your ears pierced?! I've been telling you to do that for months!" the bluenette squealed. "And are those pearls?!"
"Maaaaaybe." May hinted.
"May that's awesome! They totally bring out your eye sparkle!" Dawn cheered.
"Thank you! You're going to see a whole new Princess of Hoenn on that stage!" the brunette grinned.
"You gotta let me see the full outfit!"
"You said you'd be watching on TV." May teased as she stuck her tongue out.
"You said it was "a sneak peeeeak"! So let me peek!" Dawn demanded.
"I showed you the earrings, told you Glaceon and I match and showed her off. You've had your sneak peek." May remained firm.
"Ug! Don't be cruel to your best friend!" Dawn complained.
"Okay okay, I'll show you…" May chuckled, getting another idea. "I'll throw you a bone. I'll call you back in an hour and let you see something special. But it's not gonna be what you think kay?"
"How do you know what I think?"
"Don't worry. I think I know you pretty well by now. You'll see."
"Alright! This is so cool!"
"Talk to you soon Dawn." May smiled and then hung up. Glaceon giggled at the two of them as May smiled down at her. "Come on. Let's get back to the shop."
"Alright! The dress has to be done by now! I can't wait to see it!"
"Me neither. But there's one more thing I want to see if we can pull off." May admitted.
"What thing?" Glaceon wondered.
"I'll explain soon. I just hope there's enough time to do it." May said before she started running back towards the shop.
"Wait up!" Glaceon gasped as she ran after her trainer. "What's all this about?!"
"Just a little something extra to really start the new May off right!" May smiled.
After a quick dash through town, May and Glaceon arrived back at the shop and wasted no time heading inside. Hearing the bell above the door ring, Lila walked out and met up with them.
"Hi May, Glaceon."
"Hi, Lila."
"Here to pick up the finished dress?"
"Sure am. But in truth, I was hoping I could ask you for one more favor." May admitted, a bit sheepishly.
"I'll do what I can of course. What's going on?" Lila wondered.
"Well, I've been thinking about this "new May" I want to be and I think…I also wanted to shake up my normal look as well get back into something more my style." May began.
"You want to change your traveling clothes?" Lila asked, seemingly surprised by the request.
"Yeah." May nodded as she continued her explanation. "I've tried, but orange and green just aren't my colors. I wanna get back on form, which means back in red and make in something that feels like me."
"I see." Lila chuckled.
"I know it's last minute and I hate to spring this on you but…do you think you have anything that I could wear for this last leg of my journey…?"
"Well May, turns out we have a very similar thought process. Come with me." Lila announced as she proceeded to head back to her studio. May and Glaceon were surprised by Lila's reaction to her request and curiously followed her into the back. There, Lila picked up a box from her workbench and offered it to May. "I was going to wait until after the Grand Festival to give it to you, but I suppose now is as good a time as any."
"This is for me..?" May gasped, her eyes widening in surprise as Lila nodded.
"It's my way to thank you for everything. I haven't had this much fun on a project in ages. And I remembered what you said about your outfit when we first met. So in between work on your dress, I put a little something else together for you."
"Oh my gosh…Lila…" May whispered, completely stunned.
"I think it'll go well with the "new May" you want to be." she winked. May looked down at the box and then slowly opened it. Inside the box was a full new outfit, complete with a black undershirt and a red tank top, black bike shorts and white jean shorts, yellow high-top shoes, a yellow and green waist pack, and a red headband with a bow that resembled her old bandana. May gasped in complete shock.
"Oh, Lila..! It's perfect! Thank you thank you thank you!" May exclaimed as she hugged the Poke Stylist tightly. Lila chuckled and hugged her back.
"You're very welcome May. But don't keep us in suspense. Let's see how it looks." May nodded in agreement and ran to the changing room as Lila and Glaceon smiled and waited. May squealed in excitement as she finished putting the new outfit on.
"Oh, it's just like my old outfit!"
"Let us see let us see!" Glaceon demanded. Laughing, May stepped outside and showed off the new outfit. "Wow!"
"Well, what do you think?" Lila wondered.
"It's so much better! I love it!" May cheered.
"I'm glad to hear it. It looks great on you." Lila nodded.
"Thank you so much! This is so incredible!"
"It's my pleasure. And hopefully, it'll help you continue to be your best self. Because May when you're yourself, you're really something special. And that's why it's been such a joy to work with you." Lila said gently, making May smile, feeling the woman's confidence in her.
"I will! I promise!"
"Then you two get a move on. Don't want to be late for the Grand Festival right?" Lila winked. "I'll be watching so give it all you got."
"Thanks!" May nodded as she walked over to the dress, which was hanging inside a garment bag for her, finished completely and looking perfect. "Wow…It's just so beautiful…"
"I'm glad you think so." Lila chuckled.
"I almost want to wear it all day…" May admitted sheepishly, causing Lila to laugh.
"If the audience likes it as much as you do, maybe you'll get that chance."
"Heh...maybe." she carefully took the dress and was about to leave when a thought crossed her mind. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I almost forgot! What do I owe you for the dress?"
"Oh don't worry about that May." Lila responded with a shake of her head. "It was our project. I wouldn't dream of charging you for it."
"What!? You can't give both of these to me for free!" May gasped.
"The dress was a project that we both put a lot of time and effort into. And the outfit is a gift from me. There's no need to charge you." Lila insisted, completely stunning May.
"Lila…" she stammered as she teared up a little, surprising Lila now.
"May are you ok?" She asked. Instead of responding, May simply hugged her again.
"Thank you...this means more to me than you know…" she whispered. Lila smiled softly and hugged her back. Glaceon smiled and nuzzled both of their legs, wanting to express her gratitude as well.
"Of course May. It was my pleasure." Lila assured her as the two of them eventually separated from the hug.
"I'll make you proud..! I promise!"
"I know you will." Lila smiled softly with a wink. "And I know you'll make that young man proud as well." May blushed as red as her new shirt, having completely forgotten she had told Lila a little about that as well. Her response made Lila chuckle which helped May take a deep breath and calm down.
"Thanks again...really…"
"I was happy to do it May. Do your best out there."
"I will...I swear it…"
Soon, after getting back on the road once again and now heading for Lake Valor, May used her Poke Nav and dialed Dawn's number again. To no one's surprise, Dawn was quick and eager to pick up.
"Talk to me girl!" she demanded. May laughed and held the Poke Nav out so Dawn could see more of her new outfit and posed.
"Meet the new Princess of Hoenn." she announced as Dawn gasped.
"Whoa! May you look amazing! Not that you didn't look amazing before but you know what I mean!" she exclaimed.
"Thanks, Dawn!"
"Where did you get that?!"
"My new friend."
"Lila made you that?!" May nodded in response.
"Incredible! Between that and your mystery Contest Dress, I'm sure everyone is going to love it!" Dawn cheered.
"Thanks. I'm actually heading off to the Grand Festival now." May informed him.
"I can't wait to see you kick some butt! I'll be watching on TV the whole time!" Dawn assured her. May suddenly had another idea and gave a small smile.
"Speaking of. You wanna see me compete right..?"
"Duh! Why?"
"Well, if you wanna watch in person, I'll help pay for your flight here." May suddenly offered, surprising both Dawn and Glaceon.
"Wait what?!" the blunette gasped.
"Lila let me have everything for free...so I have some extra money for now. And…the truth is I'd really love to have you here. So I can cover your flight woes." May explained.
"You'd really do that?!" Dawn asked, still in disbelief.
"Only if you really want to come out here." May smiled softly.
"Of course I do! You've got yourself a deal!" Dawn agreed. "I'll be on the first plane to the Valor Lakefront Resort and meet you there!"
"Great! I'll see you soon!" May nodded.
"This is awesome! See you in a few days!" Dawn waved excitedly. "Bye!"
"Bye!" both girls hung up and Glaceon smiled at May.
"We'd better hurry too if we're going to meet up with her at the resort."
"Right!" May nodded, double-checking the route on her Town Map as they walked.
"You know with Dawn coming, everyone we know will be there. Drew, Solidad, Harley, Kenny, even Marina." Glaceon realized.
"It'll be a full house alright." May agreed as Glaceon smiled.
"Which means this time they'll all be there to watch as we take the whole thing." she snicked.
"You've got that right." May smiled a little. "But let's not get overly confident. Remember we've never beaten Marina in a Contest before."
"Oh yeah…" Glaceon realized as her smile faded a little. "She's probably the biggest competitor we have this year."
"Well, she has two Grand Festival wins under her belt already. We shouldn't expect any different." May sighed.
"She is really good at making things dazzle…" Glaceon admitted. Taking a deep breath, May shook off her worries, choosing to replace them with her newly reignited enthusiasm and confidence instead.
"But that doesn't matter. We're a great team too. And if we want to win the Grand Festival we'll have to beat her to do it. And we can definitely beat her together." she announced.
"You can always count on me! I'll battle harder than ever!" Glaceon promised.
"That's the spirit!" May grinned. "Now let's go! To the Grand Festival!"
To be Continued...
