AUTHOR'S NOTE: Greetings, readers! Here is chapter 8 of the continuing adventures of Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu as they continue their journey through the Hoenn region. This is where Hillary finds her first true calling, and gets the inspiration she needs to follow her dreams. Will they come true? Keep reading this chapter and others to find out! Meanwhile, please feel free to read and review responsibly at your leisure. Oh, yes, you may recall that in Jessie's debut as a Coordinator, she wanted to have Seviper use Sacred Fire, so I decided to even things out by having Taz try (and fail) to have his Ariados use Aeroblast. Now that'll be funny.
TEASER: Tristan and Hillary watch their first Pokémon Contest in person giving Hillary the inspiration she needs to follow her first dream. But Taz might just turn that dream into a nightmare!
Chapter 8: HILLARY'S FIRST CALLING
(Music Cue: Opening Title M01B 1997-1998)
"Wow, check it out!" said Tristan as he and Hillary continued on the road and walked through some gates the next morning. "That must be a big hall, which must mean we're already in Rustboro City!"
Pikachu seemed to agree.
But Hillary disagreed. "Guess again, Tristan, because Rustboro City is way out over there." She pointed to the city that was still a long distance away.
"Over there? Aww..." groaned Tristan. He was looking forward to his first Hoenn Gym Battle.
"That must mean we're still in for a long walk," continued Hillary. "But look on the bright side, Tristan. At least we're making progress."
"Why don't we go inside and rest for a little bit?" suggested Tristan.
"Good idea," agreed Hillary. "I'm looking forward to a little break inside a building for a change."
Togepi trilled in agreement.
Our heroes are getting close to Rustboro City, as evidenced by the day's walk they still have to do. But little does Hillary realize that something is about to inspire her into making her first big move as a Pokémon Trainer.
Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu sat inside the lobby, figuring out where they should have their midday meal, when suddenly, a butterfly-like Pokémon with two pairs of colorful wings and a long nose landed on Hillary's face.
Hillary let out a muffled scream. "Get off me!"
Tristan saw the commotion and ran to help her out. "Hey, you, let go of my sister!" demanded Tristan as he struggled in vain to pull the Pokémon off her face.
Just then, a female Trainer with brown hair rushed onto the scene. "Beautifly, stop that!" she scolded.
The Pokémon flew off of Hillary's head and landed on the woman's hands.
"You should know better than to land on people's heads, you know."
The Pokémon was ashamed.
"I'm so sorry," said the woman. "My Beautifly always seems to have a habit of landing on people's heads."
"Well, at least my face remains intact," replied Hillary. "You did say that was a Beautifly, right?" She took out her Pokédex and scanned the Pokémon.
(Music Cue: Hoenn Pokédex (as heard in the 4Kids dub)
"Beautifly, the Butterfly Pokémon. Beautifly have long, thin noses which can extend to suck the pollen out of flowers."
"My name's Janet," said the woman. "And you've met my Beautifly."
"My name's Tristan," said Tristan. "And this is Pikachu."
Pikachu greeted Janet.
"And my name's Hillary, and that's Togepi," added Hillary.
Togepi trilled happily.
"It's nice to meet you," smiled Janet.
(Music Cue: Oldale Town (full version))
Presently, a male Trainer with long purple hair ran into the hall with a lepidopteran insect Pokémon flying right alongside. "I'm so sorry, Janet. I hope I didn't cause your Beautifly to fly away like that again."
"Oh, that's okay, Chaz," replied Janet. "No harm done."
"Yeah, except that I had an unexpected visitor fly in my face," grumbled Hillary.
Chaz gave a sigh. "I guess I still need more practice on my Venomoth's attacks."
"Who's this?" asked Tristan.
"This is my good friend and rival, Chaz," answered Janet. "We battled against each other in a Pokémon Contest."
Tristan and Hillary were confused.
"What's a Pokémon Contest?" wondered Hillary.
"And if you don't mind us asking, why would you say that you needed more practice with your Venomoth's attacks?" added Tristan. "I think it's got some powerful ones already."
"Those are very good questions, and we'd be very happy to answer them," replied Janet. "You see, in Pokémon Contests, Trainers, who are called Coordinators, raise their Pokémon to execute the beauty of the attack, rather than its power, to increase the attack's appeal."
"And Contest Battles are different than regular battles," added Chaz. "For in most Pokémon Contests, Coordinators use the same methods to execute their Pokémon's attacks as gracefully as possible against their opponents, and they each have a five-minute time limit."
"And the Coordinator who successfully reaches the top in these contests receives a Contest Ribbon as the grand prize," finished Janet as she opened up a case containing three Contest Ribbons. "I've won these Ribbons so far."
"And I have one so far," put in Chaz as he showed his Contest ribbon.
Hillary was most impressed. "They're all so gorgeous! It must've taken a lot of hard work to win these."
"It sure did," agreed Janet. "My Beautifly helped me win them all, and I owe my victories to it."
Beautifly flew and landed on Janet's left hand to show its affection.
"And I can't forget about my Venomoth, too," added Chaz as Venomoth hovered next to him.
"If you're interested, I can show you a little secret for helping your Pokémon'a appeal shine through like my Beautifly," suggested Janet.
"Yeah, I'm interested," replied Hillary. "Tristan, wanna see it?"
"Okay," agreed Tristan.
(Music Cue: Team Rocket's Secret Scheme (Kanto (as heard in "The Mystery is History"))
Meanwhile, just outside, Taz was readying another fiendish plan as he looked through his binoculars at Tristan and Hillary. "Hmm, there are those kids again, as usual, and look at that beautifully mischievous Beautifly. It's sneaky, just like me, making a habit of landing on people's heads. Wouldn't it be nice if I could bring something like that to the Boss? I think so." Then he saw scores of other Trainers along with their Pokémon. "Instead of just Beautifly, I'll catch 'em all, as the saying goes."
Just then, two kids were walking by.
Quickly, Taz ducked into the bushes as they approached.
"I wanna see a Pokémon Contest here!" said the first kid.
"Yeah, me, too!" replied the other. "Maybe we'll see a Second Chance Contest."
Taz peered out of the bushes as the kids passed. "Second Chance Contest, huh? I wonder what they could be talking about. Maybe this Second Chance Contest will give me a second chance to steal these Pokémon! Oooh, I'm such a genius, I think I finally outdid myself! All right, it's plottin' time." And he ducked back into the bushes to plan his latest scheme.
(Music Cue: Lilycove City (full version))
Meanwhile, Janet was showing Hillary multiple colored cubes.
"What are these things?" asked Hillary.
"These are what as known as Pokéblock," answered Chaz.
"What's Pokéblock?" wondered Tristan.
Pikachu was confused at the term too.
"These are snacks that you give to your Pokémon to increase their condition," explained Chaz. "These are what my Venomoth likes to have, along with its regular diet, and they're nutritious as well."
As he spoke, Venomoth flew over to him, and he handed it a block for it to eat. It liked the taste so much that it flew in circles.
"Your Venomoth seems to like this Pokéblock, Chaz," smiled Hillary.
"Would you like to try giving it to your Pokémon?" asked Chaz.
"Okay," smiled Hillary as she took out her Poké Balls into the air.
Squirtle, Cyndaquil, Ralts, and Pichu emerged from the white lights that shot out of them.
Tristan saw Hillary's team and was confused, as there were some members that were missing. "Hey, sis, where are Lapras and Larvitar?"
"Oh, my Lapras and Larvitar are back at home," answered Hillary. "I thought Grandma and Grandpa could use their company, so they're helping them around the house. Lugia and Silveena enjoy seeing them, too." Then she took out the Pokéblock that Chaz gave her. "Here, guys, wanna try some of this delicious Pokéblock that Chaz made?"
All of her Pokémon, including Togepi eagerly jumped up and down; they had been wanting to try something new for quite some time. They each received one piece of Chaz's Pokéblock, took a bite, and were thrilled with the taste.
Hillary was delighted. "They all really like it!" she said. "How did you make it so delicious for the Pokémon?"
"Believe it or not, Hillary, these Pokéblock are made from berries," explained Janet. "Chaz used many different types of berries from the Berry shop. But it's important to note that different berries are used for different effects, and they all have to go together in just the right way to make it work."
"Why don't you take this?" suggested Chaz as he gave Hillary a book. "This recipe book will tell you what berries make the best Pokéblock recipes."
Hillary was delighted and accepted the book. "Thanks so much, Chaz. I'll be sure to put this to good use."
"Since you're all here, why don't we all check out the Second Chance Pokémon Contest that's here?" suggested Janet.
Tristan was confused. "The Second Chance Contest?"
Pikachu was as confused as its Trainer.
Janet and Chaz got Contest Passes for Tristan and Hillary, and a few minutes later, they all took their seats in the Contest Hall.
"So this is a what a Pokémon Contest stage is like," said Hillary. "Impressive."
"Yeah, I wonder what kind of Pokémon we'll see here," added Tristan. "And the attacks they're gonna do."
Suddenly, Chaz got up. "Oh, I just remembered, I signed up for the Second Chance Contest! Wish me luck, okay?" And he took off like a shot.
"What's up with Chaz?" wondered Tristan.
"Beats me," replied Hillary.
Presently, the lights dimmed, and a female announcer's voice boomed, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Rustboro City Second Chance Pokémon Contest!"
(Music Cue: Pokémon Contest (full version))
Searchlights turned on as a bubbly and cheerful young woman wearing a pink dress and red dress shoes appeared on the stage.
Tristan was instantly infatuated. "She's beautiful. I almost wish she was my age." Then he felt a hard tug on his ear. "Ow! Hey! Hillary, what are you doing?!"
"Making sure you don't act like a certain someone we all know and love," she answered.
The woman began her introduction. "For those of you who don't know me, my name is Vivian Meridian, and I'll be your master of ceremonies. Now before we get to the excitement, let me briefly explain the rules. This Pokémon Contest is a Second Chance Contest, where as the name describes, gives Coordinators who didn't win here or missed their initial chance to compete, another shot at victory. So for those Coordinators who are wanting to compete in Contests like this one all over the Hoenn region, you'll be glad you did!"
The audience cheered and applauded.
Then Tristan and Hillary saw Janet still sitting with them.
"Hey, Janet, why aren't you competing in the Second Chance Contest?" wondered Hillary.
"Oh, I already won here recently," answered Janet. "Coordinators who won here aren't allowed to compete in the Second Chance Contest. It makes it fair for both the winners and other Coordinators who wish to take a stab at it."
"That's too bad, but I can understand why," said Hillary, who was half-sad, half-happy.
"And now, allow me to introduce our distinguished panel of judges!" continued Vivian as she excitedly showed them to the audience. "First up, the Director of the Pokémon Contest Committee, Raoul Contesta!"
A man wearing a red suit with a pink flower ribbon attached stood up. He had gray hair. "I'm truly honored to be part of this momentous occasion."
Vivian introduced the second judge. "Next, the president of the Pokémon Fan Club, Mr. Sukizo!"
A short gentleman wearing a gray suit stood up. He had short brown hair. "Thank you so much. This is truly remarkable!"
Then Vivian introduced the third judge. "Finally, Rustboro City's very own Nurse Joy!"
Nurse Joy stood up to greet the audience. "It's such a treat to see all the Pokémon the Coordinators are going to present today."
"So are those three always judging contests?" wondered Tristan.
"Yes, they do," answered Janet. "Nurse Joy is the only one of the three judges who doesn't travel."
"Now I'd like to introduce the grand prize for our Second Chance Pokémon Contest," continued Vivian as she presented a ribbon that had the same color scheme as her dress. "Whoever dazzles our judges the most and makes it through all the Contest Battles will be awarded this: The beautiful Rustboro Ribbon!"
The audience roared in excitement.
"Coordinators who've won five of these Contest Ribbons all over the land will be able to compete in the Pokémon Grand Festival!" said Vivian. "Now it's time to begin the Appeals Round on the Performance Stage! In the Appeals Round, Coordinators must deliver a performance that showcases the charms of their Pokémon. The Coordinators who give us the most dazzling appeals will make it to the second round, the Battle Stage! All right, ladies and gentlemen, without any further ado, let our first-ever Second-Chance Pokémon Contest begin!"
The audience cheered loudly; they were certainly fired up.
First a Ninetales made its appearance. Its coat was shiny.
"Would you look at that Ninetales!" remarked Tristan. "It's obviously well-trained."
(Music Cue: Kanto Gym Leader Battle (full version))
Tristan was right, but he and Hillary didn't know the full extent of what they were in for, for Ninetales unleashed a Flamethrower into the air, creating little embers. Then its nine tails lit up, and it used Iron Tail to shatter them into stardust, matching its shining coat of fur.
The audience was awestruck.
Hillary was instantly spellbound. "Awesome," she whispered. "That Ninetales knows how to put on a great show."
"Now let's see what our judges thought of that performance!" said Vivian.
The judges gave the Coordinator nine points each, for a total of 27 points.
"Wait, so you're scored by each of the three judges?" asked Tristan.
Janet nodded. "It's important to score as many points as possible. Mr. Contesta keeps a sharp eye, and is usually the most serious of the three judges, but all three of them are firm, yet they always want to be fair."
That made Hillary nervous. Boy, that'd make almost anyone feel scared to perform, she thought.
One by one, Coordinators performed with their Pokémon, some more successful than others. One scored 28 points; another scored 23; and a third scored 26.
Finally, it was Chaz's turn.
"Next up is Entry Number 29!" said Vivian excitedly. "Please welcome Chaz!"
Chaz walked onto the stage and readied himself as the audience cheered loudly.
"Go get 'em, Chaz!" cheered Hillary.
"Show 'em what you can do!" added Janet.
"Venomoth, let's go!" shouted Chaz as he threw his Poké Ball.
Venomoth emerged from the white light that shot out of it.
Then Chaz took out a tea set. "Use Confusion, Venomoth!" instructed Chaz.
Venomoth's eyes glowed in a blue light, as did the tea set. Then it lifted it out of Taz's hands. In an impressive display of showmanship, Venomoth was able to pour some tea from the pot into each of the teacups.
"What an incredible display!" remarked Vivian. "Venomoth's Psychic has Chaz on a strong drive with cups of delicious tea!"
"That must've taken a lot of time and training to master," said Mr. Contesta.
"I'll say...remarkable!" agreed Mr. Sukizo.
"That performance makes me want to have tea myself," smiled Nurse Joy.
"Now let's dish it out!" commanded Chaz.
Without missing a beat, Venomoth used Psychic to gently distribute the tea to Chaz, Vivian, and the three judges.
The audience gave a huge round of cheers and applause for Chaz's performance.
"Delicious!" remarked Vivian. "Chaz and his Venomoth are like waiters at a gourmet restaurant!"
Each of them tasted the tea and were thrilled with the taste.
"Wow! I'm impressed!" said Tristan. "I wonder if that tea is homemade. I've just gotta get the recipe sometime!"
"Yeah, that Venomoth had a perfect way of showing off its tea pouring skills," agreed Hillary. "Now I'm really starting to get excited."
"Now, back to the Contest!" continued Vivian. "So...let's see what our judges thought of that delectable performance!"
All three judges gave ten points each, totaling 30 points, to the cheers and applause of the audience.
"Thirty points!" said Vivian excitedly. "Chaz and his Venomoth have earned a perfect score!"
"Yeah, way to go, Chaz!" said Tristan to himself.
"That was awesome!" said Hillary.
Janet agreed. "If Chaz and Venomoth were teeing off and driving the course, they'd get a hole in one!"
It was then that Vivian continued. "Now I present to your our last-minute final contestant! Here's Entry Number 30: Theodore!"
A disguised bearded man made his way to the stage and snickered as the audience cheered loudly. Soon, victory will be mine. I'll win this contest with powerful attacks that no Pokémon will be able to withstand.
Little did everyone know that it was really Taz in disguise.
Tristan looked suspiciously at the disguised man. I don't trust him, he thought. There's something about him that's really giving me the creeps.
Hillary turned to Tristan with a concerned look on her face. "Something wrong, Tristan?"
Tristan instantly snapped out of his thoughts. "No, sis, it was nothing."
"Go, Ariados!" shouted Taz as he threw his Poké Ball.
Taz's Ariados emerged from the white light that shot out of it and awaited his instructions.
"Okay, Ariados, let's do this. Use Aeroblast!" commanded Taz.
But Ariados just stood there with a surprised look on its face.
(Music Cue: Goofball Alert (as heard in "The Fortune Hunters"))
"Don't just stand there, Ariados, use Aeroblast!" ordered Taz.
But Ariados shook its head hard.
"All right, fine! Use Leaf Blade!"
Ariados continued to shake its head.
"Then use Muddy Water, let's go!"
But it was the same result.
Taz quickly looked in his guidebook for the perfect attack. Then he gave some suggestions to his Ariados. "All right, then, let's see. Can you do Meteor Mash? Water Spout? Eruption? Uh, Mist Ball?"
But Ariados just stood there with sweat dropping down its face.
"What the hey! Can't you use any powerful attack?!" screamed Taz.
It was then that the audience began booing loudly.
Vivian was left confused at the awful spectacle.
Even the judges looked bored.
Tristan and Hillary hit their faces. "How embarrassing," they groaned.
"Bad idea," put in Janet. "Never enter a Pokémon Contest if you don't know your Pokémon's attacks."
Pikachu and Togepi disdainfully agreed.
Taz shook his face and remembered the perfect attack for Ariados to use. "Ariados, Night Shade!" he ordered.
Ariados shook itself off and it unleashed a crimson beam from its eyes.
Unfortunately for Taz, he was in Ariados' line of fire and got blasted by it, sending him flying through the ceiling. "I'll show myself out!" he screamed.
Ariados gasped in horror and scurried off the stage after its Trainer.
Instantly, the judges gave Taz zero points, making everyone embarrassed.
Vivian was left speechless. At last she said, "Uh...well, that was...unusual. Now, let's move on to the Battle Stage! The two talented Coordinators who are moving on are right here!"
The screen showed pictures of Chaz and the Ninetales Trainer.
"All right! Chaz made it!" said Tristan excitedly.
"I knew he would," replied Hillary.
"Now here's where things get tricky," said Janet.
"What do you mean?" wondered Hillary.
"Just wait and see."
Moments later, the stage was set for the final battle.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come for the second round and the Battle Stage!" announced Vivian. "Now I present the finalists!"
Chaz and the Ninetales Trainer faced one another on the stage as the audience cheered and applauded.
(Music Cue: Team Aqua & Magma Grunt Battle (full version))
Vivian continued to speak. "Coordinators have just five minutes to execute their attacks gracefully while in the process, take as many points away from their opponent as they can. The battle will be over when the time expires, when one Coordinator runs out of points, or when one Pokémon is rendered unable to battle by our judges. So watch carefully, folks, as this battle begins right now!"
When Vivian said, 'now,' the timer began to count down from the five-minute mark.
Chaz sent out his Venomoth while his opponent sent out Ninetales.
"Looks like Venomoth's going up against Ninetales," remarked Hillary, "but based on type, Venomoth's got the disadvantage."
"Maybe, but I wouldn't underestimate Chaz," reminded Tristan. "Knowing him, type won't matter too much."
"Venomoth, use Stun Spore!" instructed Chaz.
Venomoth unleashed a golden powder from its wings at Ninetales, but Ninetales blocked it using Flamethrower.
As a result, Chaz's points dropped a little more than those of Ninetales' Trainer.
"Hold on, it looks like Chaz lost more points than his opponent," said Tristan.
"That's because Chaz tried to use an attack, but his opponent successfully blocked it," explained Janet. "You see, Tristan, it's not just the attack that counts here, it's how a Pokémon defends itself from those attacks."
"This is so exciting!" said Hillary. "I can't wait to see what's gonna happen next!" She was spellbound by the competition.
"You're certainly into this, aren't you, Hillary?" smiled Janet.
"Venomoth, use Psybeam!" ordered Chaz.
Venomoth's eyes glowed, then it unleashed a mysterious colored beam from them.
Ninetales saw the attack coming, but was too late to dodge as Psybeam connected with a vengeance.
"A direct hit with a beautiful Psybeam!" said Vivian excitedly. "And just like that, Chaz scores some big-time points."
"What an impressive show of power!" said Nurse Joy.
"Yes, remarkable!" agreed Mr. Sukizo.
"It's clear that Chaz has raised his Venomoth exceptionally well," finished Mr. Contesta.
Ninetales fell to the ground, but slowly got back up. But when it did, it looked very shaken up and barely maintained its balance.
"Whoa!" interjected Tristan. "It looks like Venomoth's Psybeam confused Ninetales!"
"I'll bet that's what Chaz was going for all along!" added Hillary.
Janet nodded. "Even in Contest Battles, parts of regular battling come into play, too," replied Janet.
"Now, use Stun Spore!" commanded Chaz.
Venomoth unleashed a cloud of golden powder from its wings, enveloping Ninetales with it.
Ninetales found itself unable to move.
"Another clean hit with Stun Spore!" said Vivian. "Chaz has total control, and doesn't appear to be letting up!"
"Now finish it off with Gust!" instructed Chaz.
Venomoth furiously flapped its wings, creating a huge gust of wind, scoring another direct hit on Ninetales and making the Stun Spore sparkle beautifully.
"Awesome!" whispered Hillary to herself.
"Venomoth scores big-time points with Gust," said Vivian. "What a beautiful combination attack!"
"Ninetales!" cried the Trainer.
The Trainer lost even more points from the attack as Ninetales fell to the ground.
"Ninetales has taken a lot of hits," said Vivian. "But can it continue?"
Ninetales struggled to get back on its feet, but collapsed again, knocked out.
It was then that 'X's' lit up on Mr. Contesta, Mr. Sukizo, and Nurse Joy's lecterns.
"Ninetales cannot continue," announced Vivian. "And with that, our winner of our first-ever Second-Chance Contest is...Chaz and his Venomoth!"
The audience cheered and applauded as Venomoth flew over to Chaz.
"You were great, Venomoth," commended Chaz.
Venomoth proudly nodded.
Then Chaz came to his opponent and shook his hand. "You did well, too."
"Thanks," replied the Trainer. "I'll work harder and we'll get stronger than ever."
Chaz smiled. He knew good sportsmanship when he saw it.
"So that's what a Pokémon Contest is like!" said Hillary. "Now I'm even more excited than ever!"
Presently, the same disguised bearded man, who gave a lackluster appeal earlier, appeared on the stage again. He had a gift in his hand "Excuse me, but I just wanted to present you with a present for your hard work in this Contest. Here." And he handed Chaz the gift.
"Oh, this is a nice surprise. Thanks so much." Little did Chaz realize that he was walking into a trap, for as he opened it, he saw a round black object. Realizing what it was, he frantically tossed it into the air just before it exploded, creating a huge, black cloud of smoke, causing him to cough and be blinded.
"What's going on here?!" gasped Vivian. "This isn't part of this Contest!"
(Music Cue: Team Rocket Appears (as heard in "Espeon...Not Included"))
It was then that Taz appeared with Venomoth and Ninetales ensnared in two seperate nets. He gave a cackle and said, "Looks like I'm the real winner here."
Tristan and Hillary stood up. "It's Taz again!" they cried as the audience stood up in shock.
"That's right, everybody, I'm back, and I'm here for some strong Pokémon!" replied Taz. "And these two Pokémon will do quite nicely."
"You're as low as the three hoodlums that tried to steal my Venomoth and Janet's Beautifly!" scolded Chaz. "Everything you do is an insult to both Trainers AND Coordinators!"
"You're a no-good liar and a cheat, just like they are!" added Janet as she, Hillary, Pikachu, and Tristan arrived on the stage to confront Taz.
"Oh yeah?! Let's go, Ariados!" yelled Taz as he threw his Poké Ball.
Ariados emerged from the white light that shot out of it.
"Now my Ariados is gonna tie you all up!" sneered Taz. "Go, Ariados, String Shot!"
Ariados fired a thick, silky string from its mouth at everyone.
"That's what you think! Go...Cyndaquil!" shouted Hillary as she threw her Poké Ball.
"Go, Beautifly! Help us out!" commanded Janet as she threw hers.
Cyndaquil and Beautifly emerged from the white lights that shot out of them.
"Beautifly, use Flash!" instructed Chaz.
Beautifly's wings lit up, making them as bright as the sun, instantly blinding Taz and Ariados, causing Ariados to stop its attack.
"What is this!?" exclaimed Taz. "I can hardly see!"
"That's the idea, Taz," smiled Janet.
"Now, Cyndaquil, use Flamethrower!" ordered Hillary.
(Music Cue: OK! (Orchestra & Guitar (as heard in "One Trick Phony"))
Cyndaquil ignited the flame on its back and unleashed a fiery stream from its mouth.
Not only did the flame cause Ariados' String Shot to burn up, but the embers that followed from the burnt string caused the nets to burn, freeing Venomoth and Ninetales, who happily rejoined their Trainers.
"Hey!" screamed Taz. "Those nets were brand-new!"
"Thaat was great, Hillary, thank you," commended Chaz. "Are you ready, Janet?"
"You bet!" agreed Janet. "Beautifly!"
"Venomoth!"
"Go! Double Gust!" ordered Chaz and Janet together.
Beautifly and Venomoth flapped their wings furiously and created a gust of wind so strong that it blasted Taz and Ariados sky-high through the ceiling, screaming as they went.
"We won't forget this!" yelled Taz. "Revenge will be ours!"
DING!
(Music Cue: Large Orchestra (as heard in the 4Kids English dub))
A few minutes later, Tristan, Hillary, and Janet were invited onto the stage to celebrate Chaz's victory.
"Congratulations to our Second-Chance Contest winners, Chaz and Venomoth!" announced Vivian. "And here to present them with their very own Rustboro Ribbon is Mr. Contesta!"
Mr. Contesta came to Chaz. "That Venomoth of yours is very impressive. I hope you continue to raise it with love and care."
"Thank you, sir, I will," promised Chaz. He accepted the Rustboro Ribbon and held it high in the air for everyone to see.
"And now, a special announcement I'd like to make is this!" continued Vivian. "If anyone here is interested in becoming a Pokémon Coordinator and competing in Contests like this all over the Hoenn region, all you have to do is register at the Rustboro City Pokémon Center! And once you earn five ribbons all across the land, you'll be granted entry into the Pokémon Grand Festival! And with that said, I wish you all good fortune and bid you all farewell!"
The audience cheered and applauded after the last speech.
"Well that settles it," said Hillary to Tristan, Janet, and Chaz.
"What does?" Tristan was confused.
"I've finally made up my mind," answered Hillary. "I've decided to follow in Janet and Chaz's footsteps and become a Pokémon Coordinator just like they are."
Tristan was perplexed. Then he smiled. "That's great, Hillary. If that's what you want to do, then Pikachu and I will be with you one hundred percent. Right, pal?"
Pikachu eagerly nodded in agreement.
"We'll be rooting hard for you," added Janet.
"And we'll help you with anything you need along the way," put in Chaz.
"Thanks, everybody," replied Hillary. "Your support means a whole lot to me."
Togepi trilled in agreement.
(Music Cue: Meeting and Parting (full version))
That evening, Tristan and Hillary prepared to say their goodbyes to Janet and Chaz.
"So, you're going to challenge the Rustboro Gym Leader, Tristan?" said Chaz. "You may not realize this, but the Rustboro Gym Leader has Rock Pokémon."
"Rock Pokémon? Really?" Tristan was a little nervous.
"Will that be a problem for him?" asked Hillary worriedly.
"Nothing that a new attack can't fix," answered Chaz. "Now, Tristan, your assignment is to teach one of your Pokémon how to use Iron Tail."
"Iron Tail?" repeated Tristan. "That sounds familiar."
"It's a Steel-type attack that works wonders on Rock Pokémon," explained Chaz. "I don't know if you'll necessarily need that attack, but it might come in handy for your Gym Battle and beyond. Find some time between now and your Gym Battle and work on that attack for me, okay?"
"I'll do it!" agreed Tristan. "Thanks, Chaz."
"You're welcome," replied Chaz.
Then off went Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi as they all waved their goodbyes to Janet and Chaz, who waved back.
And so, Hillary finally makes up her mind and decides to try her luck at being a Pokémon Coordinator, while at the same time, Tristan is given an assignement to work on teaching one of his Pokémon Iron Tail. What does the future hold for our heroes? Stay tuned as our heroes continue their journey to Rustboro City!
TO BE CONTINUED...