(A/N)
Hello and welcome back to another chapter of TPM!
It feels like years since I've updated this, doesn't it? Joking aside, I'm glad I'm updating once more.
Thank you for the advice Pokemonking. That makes it easier to keep the team up to date.
I am aware that there is another Silver in Fairy Tail and now there are two Silvers in this story. How I'm gonna take care of that confusion is for another time.
People are wondering about the inclusion of Gen 8 Pokémon and Dynamax/Gigantamax. Yes, there will be Gen 8 Pokémon as they have a good roster. Sadly, I won't be having Dynamax/Gigantamax because this story revolves around trainers and Pokémon fighting side by side and it would be hell if the trainer gets seriously injured during a Dynamax battle. More brutal than you think.
Before I get to the recap, I would like to announce I got a job, so I'll do my best to update my stories now and then.
To recap what happened last time, Team Natsu and Makarov finally arrive in Fleesia Town for Lucy's first contest. However, things went in a different direction as a mysterious Pokémon Mage called Silver is causing havoc in the name of justice. Even though he gave everything he got, Gray lost to the Crimson Warlock.
What's in store for our heroes now? To find out the answer, let the journey continue!
Save File 12 - Contest Premiere
Fleesia Town, Pokemon Center, Sunset
After Silver's attack in Fleesia Town, Gray and his pokemon were taken to a nearby Pokemon Center. As Gray, Totodile, Snorunt, and Heracross are being healed by Chansey and a pink-haired nurse, the other Fairy Tail mages are witnessing the operation through a glass window in the hallway.
Natsu can't help but feel angry about what happened to Gray. They may have butted heads constantly, he doesn't completely hate him. "Bastard…" He growled while clenching his fist.
"Natsu, you must refrain yourself from chasing after Silver." Erza instructed with a serious look on her face, though she does understand his frustration.
"I know, but that jerk is going to pay the next time we see him." Natsu swore with a sigh.
"Lucy, we're sorry for the change of plans." Ash apologized. "I know you wanted to train for your upcoming contest."
"It's fine." Lucy reassured with a small smile. "To be honest, I'm more worried about Gray and his Pokemon."
After bandaging up Gray, the nurse walks out of his room and turns to the Fairy Tail mages. "Your friend will be okay."
"Thank you, Nurse Joy." Ash said with gratitude. "But what about his Pokemon?"
"Pika Pika (Are they going to be okay)?" Pikachu cries out in concern.
"Don't worry, Chansey took care of them." Nurse Joy answered. "They're awake if you want to see them. But please keep it brief. I want them to rest."
"We will." Erza said as the others entered the room one by one.
"Hey…" Gray said, laying down and tilting his head to see his guildmates and guild master.
"How are you feeling, Gray?" Makarov asked.
"Still in pain, but luckily I'm still alive." Gray confessed with a small wince.
"Don't force yourself to move." Erza reprimanded softly. "Just take it nice and slow."
"Pikapi (Totodile)!" Pikachu jumps off of Ash's shoulders and runs over to Totodile's bed.
"Klefki! Klefki (Heracross! Snorunt)!" Klefki floats over to the two Pokemon.
"Toto Totodile (Hi Pikachu. Hi Klefki)." Totodile waves weakly.
"Heracross (I've faced worse before, so I'll be fine)." Heracross reassured with a simple nod.
"Snorunt Snorunt (Chansey's Soft Boiled really helped us)!" Snorunt chuckled, but turned to Gray along with Heracross and Totodile as they made sad faces.
"Don't worry guys, I'll be fine." Gray reassured before glancing down at his bandaged arms. "I'm.." He paused before closing his eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" Natsu asked.
"You idiot, I failed to beat Silver and he got away." Gray answered with a guilty tone. "If only we were stronger…"
"Gray, don't beat yourself up over a defeat." Makarov said sternly before smiling. "It doesn't matter if you win or lose. I'm more concerned about the safety of my children."
"And we didn't fully lose." Ash brought up with a smile. "The Rune Knights will have an easy time catching Silver now that they know his name and what he looks like."
Gray can't help, but crack a small smile and let out a soft chuckle. "Thanks. I needed that." He said with gratitude.
"We're just thankful you and your Pokemon are still alive." Lucy said with a relieved sigh.
"Excuse me." The five Fairy Tail mages turn around to see Nurse Joy and Chansey entering the room. "Sorry, but I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. /We still have a few things to go over."
"It's fine." Ash nodded in understanding. "Let's go, Pikachu."
"Pika (Coming)." Pikachu nodded and hops onto his trainer's shoulder before leaving the room.
"We'll see you later, Gray." Lucy said, earning a nod from the ice wizard as she, Klefki, Erza, Makarov, and Natsu exited out of the room.
"You have good friends." Nurse Joy told Gray as Chansey walked over to Totodile, Heracross, and Snorunt.
"Yeah... I do." Gray admitted as he relaxed on his bed. "I just wish I could see Lucy's contest in person."
Outside of the Pokemon Center
"It's a relief to know Gray will make a full recovery." Makarov says as he, Ash, Erza, Natsu, and Lucy are sitting on a few benches outside of the building.
"I knew he would pull through." Natsu said with his hands behind his head."There's no way he's giving up that easy."
"But weren't you worried earlier?" Ash brought it up. "You even wanted to go after Silver."
"You were seeing things." Natsu denied with a grumble.
"Aww, you do care about him~." Lucy gushed with a teasing smile.
"I do not care about that jerk!" Natsu pouts in annoyance.
"Oh? You're saying you don't care?" Erza asked with a rather menacing smile.
"I-I mean... yeah! But not like a friend! If he stayed in bed, I wouldn't get to kick his ass myself! Yeah, that's it." Natsu said out of fear.
"He may hide it, but Natsu does care about Gray." Makarov whispered to Lucy and Ash with an amused smile.
"I think we already got that." Ash said as he and Lucy giggled quietly.
"Lucy, shall we get going?" Erza asked. "You told me you want to buy a dress to wear for your contest."
"That's right!" Lucy gasped as he remembered. "We better get going, Klefki!"
"Klef Klefki (No time to waste)!" Klefki said as she and Lucy moved ahead of the males.
"Do you guys want to come?" Lucy offered to Natsu, Ash, and Makarov.
"Well… If you insist." Makarov chuckles devilishly with a smirk.
"No!" Erza shouted, frightening the four. "Master, I want you and Natsu to stay at the Pokemon Center. Ash, you're coming with us."
"Wait what?" Ash asked, tilting his head in confusion before being pushed by both Erza and Lucy. "Whoa! Don't push me!"
"It'll be fun." Lucy reassured.
"But why me?" Ash demanded as he stumbled a bit from the girls pushing him.
"As much as I respect Master Makarov, I don't trust him to be ogling at girl's clothes and Natsu doesn't know anything about fashion." Erza explained.
"I guess that makes sense." Ash said hesitantly.
"Wait a minute." Lucy halted as she looked at the aura wizard. "Ash, do you know anything about shopping?"
"Well, I go with my mom whenever we need groceries or new clothes." Ash answered, totally missing the point.
"Not what I meant, but at least you have some experience." Lucy smiles.
"Excellent, then off we go!" Erza shouted as she and Lucy ran forward, dragging Ash by his arm.
"Whoa WAIT!" Ash cries out as Pikachu falls off his shoulder.
"PIKA! PIKACHUUU (HEY! WAIT FOR ME)!" Pikachu shouted as he and Klefki chased after the three, leaving the depressed Makarov and puzzled Natsu behind.
"Lucky kid…" Makarov sulked with a dark cloud looming over him.
"What's so exciting about clothes?" Natsu asked, not even getting a single clue about what's happening.
Clothing Store, Fleesia Town
"Wow, they're so many cute clothes, I don't know where to start." Lucy zooms all over the different sections, glancing at the clothes.
"Klefki Klef (Cute, Beautiful, Cool, there's a lot of options)!" Klefki cheered in a singing tone.
"It wouldn't hurt to try them on and see which one is best for a contest." Erza said, looking at the various clothes.
As the girls continue to pick out clothes, Ash and Pikachu are simply standing clueless at their excitement over clothes, accessories, and make-up.
"Hey Ash, what do you think of these?" Lucy walks up to him and holds up two different dresses: one blue and the other purple. "Which one do you think is cuter?"
"They all look like regular clothes to me." Ash answered.
"That's not what I ask…" Lucy sighs at his obliviousness.
"Well, what about this one?" Erza asked, holding up a rather bold and revealing dress.
"Erza, I can't wear that in public!" Lucy rejected with a massive blush. "This is a contest! Not a photoshoot!"
"Really?" Erza asked as she looked at the dress. "You're right. It would draw unwanted attention."
"I want to know something. How do these Pokemon Contests work?" Ash asked.
"You don't know how they operate?" Erza asked back, causing Ash and Pikachu to shake their heads in response.
"It's like Gym Battles, but they also judge the trainer and Pokemon based on performances and coordinations." Lucy explained, performing a twirl while Klefki mimics her trainer's movements.
"So that's why they're called Coordinators." Ash said, starting to put the pieces together. "But why do you need to dress up? Can't you wear what you're wearing right now to the contest?"
"It's required to wear fancy clothes to participate in a Pokemon Contest." Erza explained. "Think of it as a magic show or opera."
"Oh yeah, they do dress fancy." Ash said with a small smile.
"You're getting it." Lucy giggles with delight. "There are five different styles: Cool means that it looks incredible. Cute means that it looks adorable. Clever means that it looks smart. Beautiful means that it looks elegant. And Tough means that it looks strong."
"What style do you specialize in?" Ash asked.
"I specialize mostly in cute and beautiful, but since I have Tauros on my team, I can also be versatile." Lucy answered. "Most coordinators like to use more than one style."
"Hope this can help narrow things down for clothing options." Erza said before looking at Ash. "Ash, if you were in a contest, what would you wear?"
"Me?" Ash looks surprised as no one has ever asked him about contests before. He crosses his arms to think for a moment. "Well, I would wear something that makes me feel comfortable. You know, something that makes you feel like yourself."
"Really?" Lucy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. I mean, look at Erza." Ash gestures to the redhead. "She wears armor a lot and I can tell it makes her comfortable. That and I think it also represents the type of Pokemon you use."
"Pikachu (She has the warrior vibe)." Pikachu noted.
"Klef (You're right)." Klefki nodded at Pikachu.
"That's it!" Lucy snapped her finger as she got an idea. "Now I know what dress to get! Come on, Klefki!"
"Klefki (Yay)!" Klefki cheered as she and Lucy ran into another section.
"Thanks for the advice, Ash!" Lucy waves.
"No problem." Ash waves back with a smile.
"For someone who says they don't know much about fashion, you certainly have a way of surprising everyone." Erza told Ash with an amusing smirk.
"You think so?" Ash asked.
"Of course." Erza answers before walking away with a small giggle. "If only you can incorporate that in your training. You still need to improve your stance."
Ash laughs awkwardly before realizing what Erza said to him, causing him to look confused and kinda offended. "Wait, what do you mean by that?" He asked as he ran in Erza's direction.
Pokemon Center, Few Minutes Later
Natsu and Makarov are by the Pokemon Center in the battlefield zone. As they wait, a few Pokemon Coordinators are practicing with their Pokemon to get ready for their upcoming contest.
"What's taking them so long?" Natsu asked impatiently as he paces back and forth.
"Be patient, Natsu. You can't rush girls when it comes to shopping." Makarov explained calmly.
"Sheesh, you need to learn how to take things slow, Flame Brain." Natsu gets infuriated by the insult and turns around to see Gray, who still has bandages wrapped around him, walking out of the Pokemon Center with his Pokemon.
"Gray!? You're out already!?" Natsu exclaimed, not expecting to see his rival out so soon.
"Shouldn't you be resting?" Makarov asked with a worried tone.
"Nurse Joy's magic was able to heal most of our injuries, so we're allowed to walk." Gray explained as he slowly gestured to his Pokemon. "Although, she told us we shouldn't battle just yet."
"Totodile/Snorunt/Heracross (We're as healthy as a Rapidash)." Gray's Pokemon said with a reassuring smile.
"By the way, where are Ash, Lucy, and Erza?" Gray asked, glancing around the area.
"They went shopping to find a dress for Lucy." Makarov answered.
"For her contest?" Gray asks again before looking to his right and sees a few coordinators practicing with their Pokemon. "Well, she better hurry up and get more practice in."
"We're back!" Natsu, Gray, and Makarov turn around to see Ash, Erza, Pikachu, Klefki, and Lucy walking.
The three males notice Lucy isn't wearing her beanie and usual attire. Instead, she's wearing a sleeveless dress which is white at the top and gradually turns dark blue at the bottom, dark blue collar with a star accessory, white sash, blue elegant detachable sleeves with star decorations, dark tights, and blue mary jane shoes.
"Apologies. It took some time to find the design she needed." Erza apologized.
"What do you think?" Lucy asked as she performed a small twirl. "Does it look good?"
"Looks great." Gray admitted with a small smile.
"You did a fine job picking a wonderful dress." Makarov complimented while admiring Lucy's beauty in her contest attire.
"It was mostly Ash's idea." Lucy admitted, looking over at the aura mage.
"All I told is to wear something that makes her comfortable." Ash confessed awkwardly.
"Pika Pikachu (Still modest)." Pikachu sighs before seeing a bubble floating nearby. "Pika (A bubble)?" Pikachu reaches out and taps a nearby bubble and lightly taps it until…
*POP*
The bubble pops in front of Pikachu and Ash, soaking them in the process due to a huge amount of water.
"Are you two okay?" Makarov asked as Natsu, Lucy, and Gray struggled to hold in laughter.
"We're fine." Ash coughed and took off his cap to rinse it off. Once he finishes, he and the others see a few more bubbles floating by.
"Where are these bubbles coming from?" Gray asked.
"I believe that would be a water type Pokemon's doing."Erza theorized as she and the others turned around to see a blue small seal Pokemon with large eyes, a long, white snout with black whiskers, a round pink nose, ear flaps on the side, and a light blue ruff in the middle of a crowd.
The seal Pokemon barks and blows a balloon with its nose as it floats away in the air.
"Ahh~! It's so cute~!" Lucy gushed as she took out her pokedex and pointed it at the Pokemon.
[Popplio - The Sea Lion Pokemon. It creates special bouncy balloons with its nose and continues to practice in order to create bigger bubbles.]
"Pop Popplio (Not big enough)." Popplio took a deep breath before blowing another bubble with its nose, which looked bigger than before. Popplio then performs a backflip and lands on the bubble with one paw, earning applause from those who are watching. "Pop Pop (Ta Da)!"
"Wow, that was awesome." Natsu grins while clapping.
"I definitely want to catch it!" Lucy exclaims, taking out a pokeball.
"I apologize, but Popplio is my partner." Lucy snaps out of her daze and sees a tall young man next to her with light skin, shoulder-length black hair, and blue eyes, one of which is always covered by his hair. His outfit consists of a green hat and a green cape held together by a red gem and blue cravat, over a blue vest, off-white shirt, gray trousers, and black boots. He also wears a brown shoulder bag, and carries a golden harp shaped like a Mew.
"I-I'm so sorry!" Lucy apologized frantically. "I didn't know that Popplio was yours!"
"It's fine." The male reassured with a smile. "Lovely dress. I take it you're competing in the Fleesia Contest?"
"Yes, I am." Lucy answered. "Actually, this is my first time competing in a contest."
"Impressive." The male smiles as he strums his harp a bit. "You are a seed planted in a new garden, unfamiliar with your surroundings. But with patience, you will start sprouting. Apply your growth to your journey and soon, your potential will reach to eternity."
"What a lovely poem." Lucy slightly gasped with a smile.
"Thank you." The male said before seeing Klefki. "Is this your partner Pokemon?"
"That's right. Klefki's been with me since I was a kid." Lucy answered while Klefki did a small bashful giggle. "I haven't introduced myself. I'm Lucy."
"The name's Nando. Pleasure to meet you." He introduced as he shook Lucy's hand, noticing her Fairy Tail emblem. "You're from Fairy Tail?"
"Yes. Well, I'm still really new." Lucy clarified while holding her left hand. "You can say I'm a seed for contests and being in a guild."
"There you are, Lucy." The blonde girl looks back and sees Erza, Natsu, Gray, Ash, and Makarov approaching while the crowd starts to leave.
"Nando?" Makarov asked as he recognized the musician. "Is that you?"
"Who?" Natsu simply asked with a blank face.
"Master Makarov! Erza!" Nando exclaimed with a small gasp before smiling. "My, it's been quite a long time since our last encounter."
"You know this guy?" Gray questioned Erza and Makarov.
"Wait, is he also a member of Fairy Tail?" Ash added.
"I'm not with Fairy Tail." Nando answered by unrolling his right sleeve, revealing a light green pegasus tattoo with a pair of wings. "I'm a member of Blue Pegasus."
"Nando's a good friend of the guild." Erza explained. "And he's an old rival of Mirajane."
"Wait a minute!" Lucy shouted before looking at Nando. "You're Nando the Maestro!? You're one of the best coordinators in Fiore! Specializing in Sound Magic and performing contests as if they're in an orchestra!"
"I'm glad to have a fan in Fairy Tail. Though, I would appreciate it if you kept it to yourself." Nando requested with a nervous smile.
"I-I'm sorry!" Lucy apologized, promptly covering her mouth while looking flustered.
"No need for apologies." Nando said calmly. "Speaking of Contests, have you registered?"
"I was going to." Lucy admitted. "But I don't know if I should register at the Pokemon Center or Contest Hall."
"I'll show you how to register." Nando said as he started walking with Popplio following behind him. "So how's Mirajane doing?"
"She's doing well." Makarov answered. "She's now working as a waitress and part time model."
"Shame that she retired from participating in contests." Nando admitted with a frown before turning it upside down. "But I'm relieved to hear she's doing well."
"I don't recall you having a Popplio." Erza said as she looked at Popplio. "When did you catch one?"
"A month ago." Nando answered. "She was drawn to my music and started to perform tricks that are in sync with my performance and I must say, it was a memorable event."
"Pop Popplio (His music is spectacular)!" Popplio barked with a clap before jumping into her trainer's arms.
"Afterwards, I decided to take her under my wing." Nando said while petting Popplio with one hand. "It's as if destiny brought us together."
"Who's stronger?" Natsu asked. "You or Mira?"
"Interesting question…" Nando started as he pondered a bit. "Neither of us. I'd say we're on equal footing."
Natsu was left speechless at the fact there's someone who's just as strong as Mirajane. He then grins before taking out a pokeball. "Let's battle right now!"
"That's why you asked who's stronger?" Gray sighs with a deadpan face.
"As much as I admire your enthusiasm, I'm afraid I must decline your request." Nando apologized. "I prefer to save my energy for the contest."
"Dang it…" Natsu groaned in disappointment.
"But I wouldn't mind battling you another time." Nando said with a smile.
"Wait, really!?" Natsu's eyes sparkle with excitement before letting out a loud cheer. "Yes! Can't wait!"
"One moment, he's depressed. The next, he's happy?" Lucy questioned with a sweatdrop.
"Klefki Klef (It's like he's a lightswitch)." Klefki sighs while jingling her keys slowly.
Up ahead, there's a giant stadium decorated with flowers with a billboard that reads [Fleesia Contest!] with two pokeballs colored in purple and gray.
"Once you enter here, you can register." Nando told Lucy before hearing his Pokegear go off, prompting him to take it out. "I'm afraid we must part ways for now. My Guild Master is calling me."
"We understand." Erza said with a smile.
"I'll see you in the contest, Nando." Lucy said, holding a hand out.
"Indeed. Good luck, Lucy." Nando shook Lucy's hand before walking away.
"He seems like a nice guy." Ash admitted as he's surprised to see a rival who is rather nice as opposed to being rude like Paul.
"He is, but he's also a skilled coordinator." Erza clarified. "And he shouldn't be underestimated."
"If he's just as strong as Mirajane, then I better be careful." Lucy said as she entered the contest hall, seeing a few coordinators with their pokemon.
"All of these people are here for the contest?" Gray asked, taken aback by the amount of coordinators within the room.
"Most of them are." Makarov answered. "There are those who want to see their friends or family perform live."
'I hope he doesn't see me.' Lucy thought to herself, looking down and holding her hands before walking up to the counter. "Hello. I'm here to register for the Pokemon Contest."
"Welcome!" The clerk greeted Lucy with a smile. "Are you here to watch or participate?"
"I'm actually here to participate." Lucy answered. "How do I register?"
"You can place your Pokegear on this lacrima." The clerk gestures her hand to a translucent panel that's glowing with various colors. "It'll scan your data and automatically register you."
Lucy takes out her Pokegear and places it on the lacrima, causing it to glow and scan the device before a screen pops up and displays Lucy's current info.
[Lucy of the Fairy Tail Guild is now registered to compete in Pokemon Contests.] A computer voice said. [Number of ribbons you're in possession: 0. Number of ribbons Fairy Tail is in possession: 1. We wish you the best of luck.]
"You're all set." The clerk bowed as she handed Lucy a ribbon case. "We hope you have a wonderful time."
"Thank you." Lucy smiles as she grabs her pokegear.
"Wait. Only one Ribbon?" Ash raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I thought you guys would have plenty."
"We haven't been getting any ribbons ever since Mirajane retired." Erza explained. "If I recall, Levy is the one who won our first ribbon in recent years."
"Who's Levy?" Lucy asked.
"She's a Pokemon Mage who specializes in Solid Script Magic." Makarov answered while looking at Lucy and Ash. "And she's around your age."
"Really?" Lucy looks at Ash and Pikachu. "Maybe we can talk to her once we head back to Fairy Tail."
"Sounds like a plan." Ash agreed.
"Pika Pika (Cool! A new friend)!" Pikachu cheered.
Later at Night, Pokemon Center
After a long day, everyone is in their respective rooms: Natsu and Ash, Makarov and Gray, and Erza and Lucy.
Lucy, now wearing her pajamas, is sitting on her bed while looking at her new ribbon case.
"Can't believe my FIRST contest is tomorrow." Lucy said in disbelief. "It feels like a dream."
"Klefki.. (Lucy)?" Klefki slowly floats up with a yawn.
"Oh, sorry Klefki. I wasn't trying to wake you up." Lucy apologized, only to get a simple movement from her Pokemon. She then sees Ralts teleporting to her lap. "Couldn't sleep either, Ralts?"
"Ralts (Yes)." Ralts simply nodded.
"I'm sure Tauros is as restless as ever." Lucy quietly giggles to avoid waking up Erza and her Pokemon. She then gets up, puts on her slippers, and walks out to the balcony to get some fresh air.
"Klefki Klef (Wow, it's so pretty)." Klefki said in awe as she and Ralts looked up at the beautiful night sky, filled with stars and a full moon.
'If mom could see me now.' Lucy thought with a frown.
[Flashback, 10 years ago]
A Young Lucy is sitting on the lap of a beautiful woman that looks like her. The two are in front of a Lacrima television as it's playing a Pokemon Contest live. It showcases a female coordinator finishing a performance with her Dragonair.
"Mommy! When I grow up, I want to be a Pokemon Coordinator just like you!" Lucy exclaims with her arms up.
"A Pokemon Coordinator? Why's that?" Lucy's Mom questioned.
"Because they are so elegant and beautiful. And one day, I'll be a top coordinator just like you." Lucy smiles at her mom.
"If that's what you want to be, then I'll support you." Lucy's Mom promised as she kissed her daughter's forehead. "Just promise me one thing: No matter how many times you fail and whoever brings you down, never let go of what's important to you and keep shining with a smile on your face."
"I promise!" Lucy swore as she and her mom held pinky fingers together with laughter.
[Flashback Ends]
Lucy looked up at the night sky and held up her pinky finger the moment a shooting star passed by.
'I haven't forgotten my promise, Mom.' Lucy thought with a determined glimmer in her eyes. 'I will be a Top Coordinator one day.'
The Next Day, Fleesia Stadium
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Fleesia Town Contest!" A mysterious voice shouted in a dark stadium before several spotlights turned on, lighting up the entire stage and revealing a male adult with blonde hair, sky blue eyes, and a short beard. His attire consists of a blue and black top hat, trench coat, white collared shirt with a gold tie, black trousers, and dress shoes. "My name is Monsieur Pierre and I am your announcer!" He introduced to the audience as the cheering and clapping grew loud.
"Monster Pierce?" Natsu butchered his name with a perplexed face.
"It's Monsieur Pierre." Gray corrected with an annoyed sigh.
"Is he a coordinator?" Ash asked Makarov and Erza.
"He used to be one, but he retired and became the commentator for the contests held in Fiore." Makarov responded.
"My, what enthusiasm. But please save it for our competitors." Pierre said as he twirls his staff. "Now, allow me to introduce our judges!"
One spotlight turns on, revealing to be Nurse Joy. "First is Fleesia Town's resident Pokemon Nurse, Nurse Joy!"
"I am looking forward to judging today." Nurse Joy said through her microphone with a smile.
"Surprised she can judge Pokemon Contests too." Gray admitted before realizing something. "Wait. Who's looking after the Pokemon Center if she's here?"
"Good question." Erza pondered. "Either she got someone to take her place or she left her Pokemon to look after the place."
The second spotlight turns on, revealing a middle aged male with black and gray hair, black eyes, and a red suit with a white shirt and black bowtie. "Next is our Chief of the Pokemon Activities Committee, Mr. Contesta!"
"Thank you for having me." Mr. Contesta nodded with a calm smile. "I look forward to this."
The third spotlight turns on, revealing a shorter man with close eyes, buzz cut brown hair, and a blue tuxedo suit. "Then we have the President of the Pokemon Fan Club, Mr. Sukizo!"
"This will be remarkable!" Mr. Sukizo said with delight.
"And last, but not least, we have a special guest with us today…" Pierre announced as the spotlights turned pink. "She is the Queen of Pokemon Contests… The White Fairy… The Guild Master of Mermaid Heels… Please welcome DIANTHA CARNET!"
The Audiences' cheer grew wild as a spherical matter appeared in the center stage. It grows big before exploding into millions of sparkles and revealing Diantha and Gardevoir floating midair.
"There she is with her signature Pokemon, Gardevoir!" Pierre commentated as Diantha and Gardevoir waves at the audience.
"Gardevoir?" Ash takes his Pokedex out and points it towards Gardevoir.
[Gardevoir - The Embrace Pokémon and the final evolved form of Ralts! Gardevoir uses all of its psychic energy to protect a Trainer it has made a deep connection with by creating a small black hole.]
"Welcome everyone!" Diantha greeted the crowd as she performed a waltz with Gardevoir. The two slowly descend down the stage and upon landing, the two bow with a smile. "We hope you will all have a wonderful experience at this contest. Today's winner will receive the Fleesia Town Ribbon. Gardevoir, Psychic."
"Voir (Right)." Gardevoir nodded as her eyes glowed light blue and held her arms out, causing a ribbon with a green silk and flower shaped pendant.
"Allow me to explain the rules." Diantha said as she took out a microphone. "Coordinators can only use one Pokemon for the Performance Round. During the first round, they must perform and showcase each other's style. The better the style, the better chance of moving to the next round. The next round is the battle round, where coordinators face off against each other in a Pokemon Mage battle. Each participant will be given five minutes and within the time limit, they must decrease their opponent's points. Whoever has the least amount of points when the time is over or if both the pokemon and coordinator faints, the round will be over. Now that I've explained the rules. Monsieur Pierre, will you do the honors?"
"Thank you, Diantha." Pierre bowed as Diantha returns Gardevoir and warps into her seat next to Mr. Suziko. "Without further ado, let the contest begin! Our first contestant is a new Coordinator. She's a rising star and may be from Fairy Tail, she has potential! Give a round of applause for… LUCY!"
"Nice! Lucy is up first!" Ash smiled.
"Pika Pika (Got get 'em Lucy)!" Pikachu cheered as the curtain drew open, revealing Lucy in her new contest attire.
"We'll be cheering for you!" Erza shouted.
'This is my first Contest, so I better do my best.' Lucy thought as she took out a pokeball. However, it was in a light blue case on the bottom and purple on top with a star sticker on it. "Klefki, it's showtime!"
Lucy twirls and tosses her pokeball up in the air. Once it opens, it shoots out various stars before revealing Klefki as she spins around. "Klefki (Hello)~!"
"Wait, why did stars come out?" Natsu asked.
"Because she used a Ball Case and a seal." Makarov explained. "You can use them to decorate your pokeball if you want to add something special to your performance."
"Klefki, Protect!" Lucy ordered as the Key Ring Pokemon created a barrier around the stage, trapping the stars inside. "Now use Metal Sound!"
"KLEFKIIIII~" Klefki twirls around and jiggles her keys to create sound waves that hit the stars, causing them to spiral around while the barrier starts forming cracks around.
"An impressive entrance with Metal Sound on top of using Protect to prevent the move from spreading!" Pierre commentated.
"Fairy Wind!" Lucy commands as she and Klefki continue to twirl, but increases the speed while unleashing a strong gust of sparkling wind as it lifts Lucy up in the air.
"Wow, Lucy is now flying in the air like a fairy!" Pierre commented as Lucy and Klefki continued to ride the wind before stopping in the center midair. During that time, the barrier disappears as the stars begin to move towards the two as the audience gasps in shock. "What's this!? The stars are aiming towards our competitors!"
"Klefki, finish this with Mirror Shot." Lucy smirks as she crosses her arms in an x-formation.
"Klefki!" Klefki's body glows before firing an orb at the stars on the right.
"Fairy Machine Gun: Leprechaun!" Lucy waves her arms as she fires a barrage of pink energy needles at the stars on the left.
Both attacks collide with the stars before exploding into a barrage of sparkling dust as Lucy and Klefki descended down to the ground.
"TA DA/KLEFKI~!" Lucy and Klefki cheered with a smile as the audience cheered and clap at the performance.
"Splendid Finale! Like a Beautiful Fairy during the middle of night!" Pierre praised with delight. "What do you think, judges?"
"The way Lucy and Klefki are in sync during the Fairy Wind was a spectacle." Mr Contesta said with a respectful tone.
"Truly remarkable!" Mr. Suziko added.
"I love how they added the barrier before using Metal Sound. Very thoughtful of their surroundings." Nurse Joy said with a smile.
"Indeed. And the finale was truly beautiful." Diantha chimed in while placing a hand over her heart.
"Wonderful! Our judges loved it!" Pierre exclaims before pointing his staff at Lucy and Klefki. "Ladies and Gentlemen. Let's give a round of applause for our newcomer, Lucy!"
The audience cheered and clapped for Lucy and Klefki as the two exited out of the stage.
"And now, let's move on to the next contestant!" Going forward, different coordinators perform alongside their Pokémon and most have performed very well. A young male coordinator performs a breakdance with his Hitmontop. A female coordinator is doing acrobatics with her Aipom. Another female coordinator wearing a leotard is ice skating with her Delibird, who is tossing presents to the crowd and the judges.
However, there were a few bumps in the road. One tall male coordinator tries to perform a fire dance with his Houndoom, but gets set on fire instead.A female coordinator dressed like a pirate tries to launch a water sphere to break a whirlpool created by a Dhelmise, only to have it go through the whirlpool and knock the Sea Creeper Pokemon into the wall.
Few Performances Later
"And onto our last contestant for the first round!" Pierre announced as most of the lights went off, only leaving one on for him and the other for the curtain. "He is an S Class Wizard of Blue Pegasus and is returning back once again to perform this year… Give a round of applause for the Maestro… NANDO NAOSHI!"
The audiences' cheers are extremely loud as the curtain opens, revealing Nando in his usual attire and holding his lyre, but wearing golden shoulder pads with his guild emblem embedded on the right.
"Roserade, make your mark." Nando tosses his pokeball up in the air, causing it to open and unleash streams of music notes before revealing Roserade, who has a lighter green color, pink eyes, and different color roses, purple on right and black on left.
Backstage
The coordinators are staring at the screen in awe and shock that their opponent has sent out a different colored Roserade.
"Nando has a Roserade like Mirajane!?" Lucy exclaims as she takes out her pokedex. "But why does it look different?"
[Shiny Pokemon are the same as their original counterpart, but are in different colors and extremely rare to find.]
"Wow… Shiny Pokemon…" Lucy said with a soft gasp.
"Klefki (Incredible)..." Klefki was left speechless.
"Better see how Nando performs." Lucy shook her head and put her pokedex away.
On Stage
"Roserade, Grass Whistle." Nando strums his lyre.
Roserade grabs his leaf cape and puts it in his mouth before blowing on it, glowing green in the process while creating musical notes.
"Petal Dance." Nando added while playing music.
Roserade continues to play music while spinning around, unleashing a barrage of pink petals from all around his body.
"What an excellent combo of Grass Whistle and Petal Dance!" Pierre commentated.
"Oberon's Serenity~" Nando starts singing and glowing green while his voice lets out sound waves and music notes, captivating the audience with his and Roserade's beautiful performance.
"And now Nando's using his magic to add more to this performance!" Pierre commented as he's even captivated by the singing.
"Chaaa (So beautiful).." Pikachu's eyes close as he lets out a peaceful sigh.
"I can see why he's called the Maestro." Ash said, noticing Pikachu's peaceful expression.
"It's even affecting the crowd." Gray said with an amused smirk.
"He hasn't changed one bit." Erza smiles.
Nando and Roserade finish their performance with a bow as the crowd goes wild, mostly fangirls squealing over his charm and performance.
"I'm amazed by Nando and Roserade's musical performance." Mr. Contesta praised calmly.
"Bravo! Very Remarkable!" Mr. Suzuko clapped.
"The Petal Dance thrown in during the performance didn't feel tacked on." Nurse Joy commented.
"It truly felt like a new beginning of spring." Diantha smiled.
"And that's it for the performance round!" Pierre announced as Nando and Roserade exited the stage. "Now please be patient as we look over the votes. Remember, only 8 Coordinators will be moving on to the Battle Round."
Backstage
"That was beautiful. We definitely have a lot more to learn." Lucy told Klefki after being blown away by Nando's performance.
"Klefki (Definitely)." Klefki nodded in agreement.
"Greetings Lucy." Lucy and Klefki turned around to see Nando and Roserade approaching.
"Hi Nando." Lucy greeted with a wave. "That was really incredible."
"No need to flatter me." Nando chuckled with a smile. "Your performance was splendid. It shows you and Klefki put some thought into it."
"Thanks, but you have more experience than me." Lucy blushed a bit before looking at Roserade. "This your Roserade?"
"Correct." Nando answered. "Say hi."
"Rose (Hello)." Roserade bowed professionally.
"I'm surprised you got a shiny Roserade." Lucy admitted as she waved at Roserade. "How did you get one?"
"It was when me and Mirajane were young." Nando answered. "Where we caught Budews. It was by sheer luck that mine was a shiny. Mirajane was rather furious and jealous of my sudden luck."
"Wait furious?" Lucy asked in confusion. Mirajane was a lot of things, but furious was never one of them.
"Indeed. The Mirajane you've met is remarkably different from back then." Nando said. "Let's just say she earned the title She-Demon for good reasons."
"She-Demon!?" Lucy gasps in horror.
"Klefki Klef Klef (As in an actual demon)!?" Klefki blurted out until Nando hushed them.
"It's mainly due to her personality and her specialization in Ghost Types." Nando explains. "Despite her quite aggressive nature, Mirajane and I were able to become good friends."
"Do you know why she retired?" Lucy asked.
"I do, but it's a rather sensitive topic to bring up." Nando answered with a frown. "Especially in the environment we're in."
'Even Nando doesn't like to bring it up?' Lucy thought in concern. 'Was her reason for retirement really that bad?'
"There you are." Lucy and Nando see Erza, Natsu, Ash, Pikachu, Gray, and Makarov by the door.
"You two were excellent." Makarov clapped.
"You words are too generous, master Makarov." Nando smiles bashfully.
"Thanks, but I have a lot more to learn." Lucy admitted.
"But I'm sure you'll be able to move on." Natsu grinned.
"I hope so." Lucy said while scratching her cheek lightly.
"The results are in!" Pierre announced via television. "The Top 8 Coordinators moving onto the next Round will be…" The camera moves upward to the big monitor on top of the curtains, revealing 16 cards shuffling in circles before revealing eight coordinators, including Nando and Lucy. "There they are! Our lucky 8!"
"Yes! I made it!" Lucy cheered.
"Told you so." Natsu smiled.
"We'll be rooting for you Lucy." Ash said with a reassuring look.
"Pika Pika (Win this for Fairy Tail)." Pikachu motivated.
"It seems fate will now be testing us on who'll come out on top." Nando said as he walked up to Lucy.
"You may be right." Lucy agreed. "And I plan to make it to the top."
"I don't plan to lose either." Nando stated with determination.
"Then let's give everything we got." Lucy challenged as she held a hand out. "Good luck, Nando."
"You too, Lucy." Nando took Lucy's hand and shook it as both coordinators gave each other a determined glare.
(A/N)
And that is it for this chapter!
Thank god I finally finished this. I am really sorry for the delay. Work was keeping me busy as well as new video games, shows, and movies coming out.
The thought of having Nando as a rival for Lucy and Mirajane originated around the time of the Lullaby Arc. I feel like he'll be a breath of fresh air after having the rude rivals that are Paul and Silver. I have more rivals in mind in the future, so keep an eye out for those.
I was originally gonna do the battle round in this chapter, but I changed it due to my schedule.
Before I end the chapter, I made a new poll for possible story ideas. Be sure to vote which one you want to see me work on in the future.
No update for the teams in this chapter. We might get one in the future.
See ya in the next chapter!
Next Time: Serenity Showdown