Disclaimer: I do not own anything, I make no money or profit from this.

Chapter 25: Let's Go to the Contest Hall

[Pokemon Contest Hall, Saffron City]

While Lynn and Ronnie Anne were off on their own, Clyde made his way to the Contest Hall. Getting lost and needing to look at his map a couple of times, he finally made it. The building was a little bigger than the gyms he visited and the outside of it was painted in bright colors with a huge Ribbon Sign on the front. Entering the building, he found himself in a reception/gathering hall. There were several doors leading to different backstages of different stages, dressing rooms, and spectator seating. Looking around he saw people in colorful, elegant, eye-catching outfits. Dresses that looked like they belonged at a fancy ball or gala, suits that looked for weddings or proms, and some that looked like costumes from live shows or movies. Girls with their hair done up, boys with their hair freshly cut, slicked back, or wearing a hat. Clyde was taken aback by what he saw. While he didn't know what to expect, he wasn't expecting this.

He was about to walk to the reception desk when someone spoke to him. "Hey, are you a new Coordinator?" A male voice asked from behind him.

Clyde turned to see a teenager who looked to be older than him. He wore a navy blue suit that resembles a stage magician with a matching top hat. He had short chestnut hair and light blue eyes. "Oh no, I just came here because someone recommended I come see what this place is" he replied nervously. "I wasn't told much, but I wasn't expecting this."

"Yeah, first timers can get overwhelmed by everything" he replied with a light hearted chuckle. "The name is Devin by the way. I'm a semi-active Coordinator."

"Semi-active?" Clyde asked, confused.

"Yeah, it means I don't participate in every region's Grand Festival," the teen now known as Devin started to explain. "I also don't compete in the Kanto Grand Festival every year and I do this more as a hobby than a career. So I'm guessing you came to learn more about Pokemon Contests?" Clyde nodded. "Alright, I'll explain it to you," he said with a smile, as he started to explain. He went over what Contests were, how they went, what Coordinators were judged on, Pokeball Capsules and Pokemon Seals, how Coordinators style the Pokemon moves, official Ribbon Contests and fan/practice Shows, and the Grand Festival. Needless to say, Clyde was slightly overwhelmed by everything.

"So official Ribbon Contests are one every month…" Clyde said to himself, sorting the info he just got. "...Only Coordinators that have a Contest Pass can enter those Contests so they have a chance to win a ribbon for the Grand Festival. Every other day of the month, the Contest the hall hosts is for Coordinators to practice or for people who do it for fun. The winner of those receives a gift item instead of a ribbon. Coordinators use Pokeball Capsules and place different Pokemon Seal to enhance a Pokemon exit from its pokeball. So it is similar to the Gym Challenge, but with more rules, regulations, and more of a time limit."

"More or less" Devin replied with a so-so gesture. "Some trainers do both, but many people choose one or the other. Some switch from one to the other as well, it all depends on the person. So how about it? You want to become a Coordinator instead?"

"Sorry, but no," the younger boy replied with a small sad smile. "Maybe later on, but for now I need to complete this Gym Challenge." A determined expression on his face. "I need to do this through to the end, not just for myself but for my friend."

"Well it seems like this is very important to you" the older boy said to him with a friendly smile. "Well I wish you luck on your journey. If any time in the future you wish to switch or try taking on both, you always can. For now, how about you stay and watch a few contests? The one I'm entering is going to be starting soon."

Clyde agreed and was shown where to go to watch the contest. After watching his first Pokemon Contest, he could see why Lincoln recommended this for him. Contest wasn't only about strength, power, and strategy. They were about showing you Pokemon's style with beauty, coolness, toughness, or Cuteness. Using outfits and Pokemon Seals to enchants those qualities, while being judged on your own outfits as well. While the one on one battles were more intense because you were being judged while battling, and in front of a live audience. This was something Clyde could potentially see himself doing further down the line. Not to say he hated gym battles, but it didn't click with him like it did with Ronnie Anne, Lynn, and Lincoln. Contest was something he could see himself having fun with. He stayed for almost 2 hours and watched 3 contests. He watched Devin win his contest with his Poliwhirl and receive a Shiny Stone. The second contest had a woman in her late 20's named Toka win with her Ninetails getting a battle item called a Flame Orb. Finally, the last contest winner was a 10 year old boy named Spike with his Bellsprout and receiving a box of assorted pokepuffs. He stuck around for another 15 minutes or so trying to talk to other Coordinators, but only met 1 friendly person. Her name was Mei and she was new to this and was practicing to become an official Coordinator. Everyone else either looked down on him for being a normal trainer or was arrogant and egotistical, they weren't much help in learning more about the sport. So he went back to the pokecenter to use the video phones to call the only person he could for more information.

"Why would you think I would know anything about Pokemon Contests?" The orange haired gym leader asked, confused. "I'm a Gym Leader, not a Coordinator. Sure I've been asked to step in as a judge a couple of times for official contests for the Cerulean Hall, but I've never participated in one."

"Yeah I know and sorry" Clyde replied with a nervous chuckle. "I tried to talk with the Coordinators at Saffron's Hall, but many of them looked down on me and acted high and mighty like they were superior. Lynn doesn't know anything about Contests and you are the only other person's number I have beside her and Ronnie Anne's."

"Yeah, I can see that happening" Misty replied with a slight frown on her face. "The few times I acted as a judge, I noticed how some Coordinators look down on trainers who do the Gym Challenge. They act like the Gym Challenge is for barbaric brutes and Contests are regal and elegant. What made you want to go to the Contest Hall anyways? Most trainers that do the Gym Challenge never know about Contests."

"Well a friend of mine, who's currently doing the Gym Challenge, recommended it to me" the young boy responded, looking downcast but with a small smile, before putting on a cheerier expression. "I'm glad he did, doing Pokemon Contests is something I could see myself doing, either professionally or as a hobby."

"I see, he sounds like a great friend," the young gym leader said with a sincere smile, to which Clyde nodded in agreement. "I hope he makes his way to my gym, I want to meet this great friend of yours." Clyde was about to start telling her about him, when she noticed the 2 people standing behind him. She saw the shocked expression on their faces, before one turned into a teasing smile and the other became a blank expression. "Well it's getting late, don't be afraid to call me again" Misty said with a teasing smile and a wink. Hanging up the phone as a little prank, leaving a confused Clyde from her suddenly ending the call. She wanted to prank him for calling her, in her mind, a dumb reason. Thinking it was nothing important he put the phone up and turned around to go back to the room, only to jump back in fear at not expecting to see the 2 people behind him. There was Ronnie Anne looking at him with a teasing smile and Lynn looking at him with a blank expression. After calming his heart back down, he was about to speak when he noticed their expressions. Confused for a second before realizing they must've seen who he was talking to on the phone.

"Wait! It's not what you think! I can explain!" Clyde said in a panic.

"Sure you can McBride" Ronnie Anne teasingly said.

"You get upset because she went easy on you, and now you're calling her" Lynn commented in an emotionless monotone voice.

"No! Seriously! Let me explain!" The young boy exclaimed, before starting telling them about his outing. After explaining everything and telling them his interest in Pokemon Contests, their expressions did go back to normal. "...And since I didn't have Lincoln's number, so I called her since she might've known something working with the League."

"Man, some of those Coordinators sound like real jerks" Ronnie Anne commented with a frown.

"That's why I stay away from the Contest Halls" Lynn added with a tired sigh. "I'm more than likely to knock out one of them for opening their mouth. The League and Contests are two completely different organizations, even though their participants sometimes cross over. Anyways, I didn't give you Linc's number because I didn't trust either of you to constantly call him, one more than the other." She turned to look at Ronnie Anne, who turned away and pouted with a frown and crossed arms. "But whatever, it's not any of our business who you call and talk to. As long as you don't get into trouble or do something more adult, you can talk to whoever." Lynn started to walk towards their reserved room.

"Yeah she's right" Ronnie Anne added with a smile on her face and arms behind her head, as she followed the older girl. "We don't care who you talk to and it isn't any of our business."

"C'mon guys, you believe me when I said I only called her for that right?" Clyde asked worryingly, watching his companions walk away. "Right? Ronnie Anne? Lynn?" He received nothing but silence. "C'mon guys, what do I have to do for you two to believe me!" He cried out chasing after them, not knowing both had teasing smirks and were silently giggling.