Hello everyone..!

So yeah, I didn't made it in time. But at least my production situation is back to normal for me now.. (finally..!)

Still, thank you for your comments and support from the beginning; it has helped me, and it still helps me to write regularly!

I leave you with this chapter and the return from the point of view of the stands!

Finally, it was over.

As the last lingering fans left the bustling stadium stands around them to return to their seats, only the occasional flash of a distant camera diverted attention to the two coaches who had finally descended.

The relentless requests for autographs, the endless flashes of selfies—it had all died down at last. For the first time, there was a rare, fleeting moment of quiet. They leaned back, both letting out synchronized sighs of exhaustion, the weight of the morning's events finally catching up to them.

Dawn closed her eyes for a brief second, trying to savor the calm, but it didn't last long. Buneary, always the opportunist, caught a glimpse of Pikachu nearby and instantly sprang to life, her eyes gleaming with that all-too-familiar sparkle of infatuation.

With a burst of energy that belied her small frame, she launched herself from her seat, her ears flopping like ribbons as she bounded towards Pikachu.

Pikachu, who had been quietly resting on Ash's lap, shot up in alarm, his ears twitching. His eyes widened as he saw the determined look on Buneary's face. "Pika!" he yelped, scrambling down Ash's shoulder in a desperate bid to escape. He darted between the seats, his little feet a blur as he tried to evade his persistent admirer.

"Ugh, not again..!" Dawn groaned, massaging her temples as the scene unfolded before her.

The chase was on...

Buneary was relentless, her tiny paws tapping rapidly against the stadium floor, a lovestruck expression plastered on her face as she closed in on her favorite yellow Pokémon.. She zigzagged after him, her leaps growing more ambitious, nearly knocking over a stray cup as she chased him around the benches.

The playful pursuit turned into a spectacle all its own, a whirlwind of fur and flailing limbs that circled Ash and Dawn like a mini-tornado.

Ash couldn't help but chuckle, watching Pikachu desperately trying to lose Buneary. "Looks like she's got you cornered, buddy!" he teased, his grin widening as Pikachu shot him a pleading look.

Dawn's patience was wearing thin, the veins in her neck standing out as she watched the spectacle with growing frustration. "Buneary, enough!" she barked, her voice sharp, her earlier exhaustion morphing into irritation. The playful atmosphere that had momentarily lightened her mood now only added to her frazzled nerves. The last thing she needed was another scene that might draw unwanted attention.

With a swift motion, she called her overly affectionate Pokémon back in a flash of red light. Buneary disappeared, her excited chirps cutting off abruptly as the ball clicked shut. Pikachu heaved a sigh of relief, flopping onto his back in a dramatic display of exhaustion.

As the calm returned, Dawn brushed a hand through her hair as if to shake off the lingering tension.

Ash exhaled, his gaze drifting over the stage. "Well, that was… something."

Dawn shot him a sideways glance, still not fully recovered from the earlier ordeal. "You're telling me," she huffed, flicking a stray lock of hair out of her face. "I was starting to think we'd always have cameras in our faces wherever we go."

A few beats of silence passed between them.

"Still alive?" Ash asked, glancing over with a amused smile.

Dawn shot him a sideways glare, her blue eyes still smoldering with the remnants of her earlier annoyance. Dawn exhaled heavily, her shoulders slumping as if the weight of the world was pressing down on them.

"Just barely." she muttered, though there was a forced lightness in her voice, a mask for the deeper frustrations she kept buried.

"And you," she added, turning to Ash with an accusatory finger, "almost sent yourself tumbling off the stands earlier. All because you just had to grab that stupid cake!"

Ash shrugged innocently. "The cake's fault for being so... cakey!"

Unimpressed by his joke, she crossed her arms, fixing him with a glare that could melt steel.

Ash pressed on, undeterred. "Still, kinda crazy we both went down like that. I think we did a good job improvising!"

Dawn still shot him a sharp, deadpan look. "Ash, we didn't both fall—you fell and dragged me down with you! You're lucky I reacted fast, or your face would've been planted into the ground.. Along with your precious cake!"

Ash smirked, glancing at Pikachu. "At least Pikachu appreciated the last part of your sentence."

Dawn fixed her gaze on Pikachu for a brief moment before turning her attention toward the stage, fighting to maintain her composure.

Ash's grin faded slightly as he looked at her, sensing her frustration more clearly now. "Even if I think I could improvize and survive of a fall of the stands of the stadium by myself, I should thank you for pulling me back before I went all the way down pitifully!"

Dawn gave him a short, affirmative nod but didn't respond, her mind still buzzing with the embarrassing scene they'd just caused. Her silence stretched, her emotions simmering just under the surface.

Ash noticed the shift in her expression and asked cautiously, "Dawn... are you alright?"

Dawn's head snapped toward him, her voice suddenly sharp. "Do I look alright? We.. We just made a spectacle of ourselves on national TV!" Her words grew louder with every syllable. "There are probably dozens of pictures and videos of us, looking like complete idiots. The whole world saw you faceplant—using me almost as a cushion in the most awkward way possible!"

Her hands flew to her head, raking through her now-messy hair. "And don't forget about this.. massacre ! I spent half an hour on my hair, and it's ruined! All on live TV! But yeah, sure, everything's just fine!"

Ash cringed at her outburst, his gaze flicking to her wild hair before he chuckled softly. "Apart from that, it's all good?"

Dawn shot him a murderous look. "Don't even start, Ash Ketchum. Don't even start."

"Okay, okay," Ash said quickly, raising his hands in surrender. He could feel her anger radiating off her, and he couldn't blame her. He had really messed things up. "I really screwed it up for you, huh?" His voice was quieter now, guilt creeping in.

"Just a little," Dawn muttered, arms crossed tightly over her chest. "And I'm already tired of dealing with your screw-ups." Her voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. It was clear she wasn't in the mood for apologies or excuses.

Ash winced. He knew she was right—he always acted first and thought later, and it had landed them both in a humiliating mess. "I... yeah, I know."

The young Champion didn't try to look her in the eye, the weight of disappointment heavy on his shoulders. He hated the thought of being the cause of her misery, especially on what should have been a special day for her.

Dawn watched him, her anger slowly losing its edge as she saw the guilt in his expression. She sighed deeply, her defensive posture softening. "You're.. maybe not the only one at fault here. I guess I'm just... on edge right now. This whole thing has been stressful enough, and then you fall on top of me... it just added fuel to the fire."

Ash's head lifted slightly at her words, and though her tone still held frustration, he could sense the shift. "I really am sorry, Dawn."

She glanced at him, her frown softening a little. "Next time you fall, I'll just let you hit the ground."

Ash couldn't help but chuckle at her sort of teasing. "You probably should've. Might've hurt less than your yelling."

Dawn smirked, the tension between them easing just a bit. "Not my fault if the truth stings."

Ash chuckled, finally seeing a hint of her usual lightheartedness peeking through. "Yeah, yeah. Still, thanks for grabbing me when I almost fell for real."

Dawn's lips quirked up in a small smile. "Next time just... try not to fall at all, okay?"

"Noted. Although," he added, with a mischievous glint in his eye, "if I had a flying Pokémon ready to catch me, it'd be like an action movie! Midair rescue and everything."

Dawn blinked, a grin escaping as she rolled her eyes. "Okay, Mr. Action Hero, focus up—the first stage of the contest is starting!"

Dawn sat in silence, her eyes locked on the stage as the lights dimmed and spotlights focused on the center platform.

Even though it was at the very end of his speech, Ash noticed Leon's presence before he could disappear from the stage. It was good to know that he might be around during the World Grand Contest..!

Then, the tension was palpable.. The crowd holding its breath as Serena's performance was about to begin.

Dawn leaned forward slightly, her attention completely captured by the stage as the music began. Pikachu and Piplup, sitting beside their trainers, mirrored their excitement—Pikachu's ears twitching in time with the music, while Piplup bobbed its head eagerly.

As Serena began once again her show, this time with her Sylveon by her side, the entire stage transformed. Soft, ethereal music filled the air, and the Pokémon gracefully twirled ribbons of sparkling light with its feelers, casting glimmering reflections throughout the stadium.

The performance built to a crescendo, Sylveon releasing a stunning Fairy Wind that shimmered in a thousand colors, cascading through the air like a dazzling waterfall of stardust.

The crowd let out a collective murmur of awe as Serena guided Sylveon through the choreography, her movements seamless and elegant. The spotlight followed her every step, creating a dance of light and shadow.

Dawn's earlier frustration melted away as she watched, her expression softening thanks to this beautiful show. Serena moved with a finesse that was hard to look away from, her bond with Sylveon on full display.

The crowd erupted in applause as Sylveon spun in a dazzling circle, releasing a wave of Fairy Wind that shimmered in the light like a cascade of stars.

Dawn leaned toward Ash, her voice quieter but filled with genuine admiration of her performance. "The Serena you mentioned earlier... Is that her? The one on stage?"

Ash grinned, nodding, his eyes glued to the performance. "Yup, that's her.. the Kalos Queen Serena! She's amazing, right?"

"She really is," Dawn admitted, her voice now more impressed than annoyed. She leaned back, still watching as Serena and Sylveon continued their routine. "You weren't exaggerating. She's got real talent for the show."

Ash's smile grew. He was glad to see Dawn lightening up again. "Yeah, Serena's incredible. She worked so hard to get here! We had some great adventures together back in Kalos." His tone became a bit more casual as he added, "Oh, did I mention she's an old childhood friend of mine?"

Dawn's eyes widened, momentarily shifting from the stage to Ash. "A childhood friend, huh?" she echoed, surprise in her tone. "I didn't know you two had history like that. Meeting again in Kalos... That's kinda—" She hesitated, looking away to search for the right words to use, before finishing in a softer voice, "Pretty lucky."

Ash noticed the pause, raising an eyebrow. "Lucky, yeah... I guess so. It's weird how fate works sometimes. If we hadn't crossed paths again, things would've been really different."

He chuckled at the thought. If Serena hadn't re-entered his life in Kalos, his journey there would've been completely something else. Maybe even his bond with his current team would've been.

Dawn nodded thoughtfully, her eyes drifting back to the stage. Serena had just commanded Sylveon into a breathtaking combined move—ribbons of light intertwined in the air, creating a magical atmosphere that had the entire audience gasping in wonder. Even Pikachu and Piplup were captivated, their wide eyes reflecting the dazzling display.

After a moment, Dawn spoke again, her voice more contemplative. "Hey, do you ever wonder what your life would've been like if you never met any of us? If things had gone differently?"

Ash paused, her question catching him off guard. He scratched his chin, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "You know, I've thought about that a few times. If I hadn't met any of my friends… well, it's hard to even imagine. My life would be completely different."

Dawn smirked, teasing him lightly. "Knowing you, you'd still be out there causing trouble. Catching Pokémon, getting into messes... But hey, at least now you've always got plenty of stories to tell."

Ash laughed, his smile widening. "Yeah, I guess I am a bit of a trouble magnet. But it's those 'incidents' that make the journey fun, right?"

Just then, Dawn noticed a subtle shift on stage. Serena's movements, once fluid and graceful, became slightly offbeat.

Ash's smile faded as he also picked up on it. His eyes narrowed, watching Serena closely. "Something's wrong.." he muttered, his tone suddenly serious. Pikachu's ears perked up, sensing the change in Ash's demeanor, while Piplup looked up at Dawn with curiosity.

Dawn's attention snapped back to the stage as Ash's tone shifted. She squinted, noticing what he meant—Serena's movements weren't as smooth as usual. Her usually graceful steps seemed a bit off, and there was a tension in her posture that made the crowd murmur in confusion. Dawn frowned, concern replacing her earlier irritation.

"I noticed it too... She's not moving as confidently," Dawn murmured, leaning forward. "Do you think she's hiding an injury?"

Ash nodded, his eyes never leaving the stage. "Could be. This isn't like her at all! Normally, she's totally in control, but now… it's like something's throwing her off."

Dawn raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a teasing smile. "..Or maybe, just maybe, it's because you distracted her with that big close-up of your dumb face on the screen right before her performance."

Ash immediately turned to her, shaking his finger in mock disapproval. "Oh, come on! My face wouldn't distract her. If anything, it should've given her a boost of confidence!" He grinned, puffing out his chest. "I mean, look at me!"

Dawn barely held back a laugh, rolling her eyes. "Right... I'm sure the entire audience went wild for Mister Pokémon Champion's big, goofy smile on the big screen. I'm sure Serena just felt totally relaxed after that."

Ash scratched his head, still trying to look dignified. "Exactly! Serena's a pro. She wouldn't let something small like… a giant screen of her friend affect her performance!"

But Dawn wasn't letting him off that easily. She leaned in, crossing her arms as she gave him a deadpan look. "Sure, sure… except distractions can happen to anyone, even to a 'pro,' especially when the distraction is as loud as you."

She suddenly launched into an over-the-top impression of him, mimicking his tone and goofy expression of earlier. "Huuuh... Hellooo wooorld! I'm Ash Ketchum, the World's Greatest Trainer, and today… Well.. I don't know why I'm here, but, duuuuh... good luck to all the contestants! Oh, and did anyone see my cake? I think I dropped it on the way over here! Who saw it? Huuuugh.. I am so hungry right nooow!"

Ash groaned, his face reddening as he slouched in his seat. "Wha—hey! I don't sound like that!"

"You sooo do," Dawn shot back, grinning like she'd just won a battle. She fluttered her hands in the air dramatically, continuing her exaggerated imitation and tone. "Duuuuh... You're just jealous because I'm a better actor than youuurself!"

Pikachu, sitting nearby, tilted its head, clearly entertained by the mockery. It glanced at Ash and shrugged as if to say, she's not completely wrong, before snickering with Piplup, who bubbled with laughter next to Dawn.

Ash threw his hands up in defeat, unable to hide the smile creeping across his face. "You're making me sound like a complete idiot!"

Dawn crossed her arms, a gleam of triumph in her eyes. "You don't need me to make that happen and embarrassing yourself."

Ash glared playfully at her, but the mischievous glint in his eyes suggested he wasn't backing down just yet. "You think you're funny, huh? Well, let me show you how it's really done."

With an overly dramatic flourish, he placed his hands on his hips, fluttered his eyelids with exaggerated grace, and began in a sing-song voice.

"Hehe, everyone.. Notice me please! I'm Dawn, the future Top One Coordinator! I'm sooo talented and fabulous!" He tossed his head back as if basking in applause. "Kneel before me, or prepare to behold my superio- Oh.. nooo!" He threw his arms into the air, pretending to trip on his seat. "My hair is ruined! My life is OVER! Piplup, quick, use Bubblebeam.. I want live inside a big bubble now!"

Piplup, eyes wide with shock, glanced nervously between Ash and Dawn. It finally lost control, flapping its flippers over its face as it tried to contain its laughter. Pikachu, meanwhile, couldn't resist and rolled onto its back, mimicking Ash's fake fall with a sly little grin.

Dawn's mouth dropped open, her expression a mixture of disbelief and barely-contained laughter. "That's how you think I act? Oh, wow. That's the worst impression I've ever seen." She crossed her arms, though the grin on her face showed she was thoroughly entertained.

Ash leaned in, grinning shamelessly as he amped up the theatrics. "N-no need to worry Piplup.. No, just kidding! I'm really desperate right now ! A-aaah?! What can I do?! What can I do before some people could screenshot and ruin all my reputations ?! I don't wanna become a meme, Piplup! Nooo..!" He flopped dramatically, placing a hand on his forehead. "I can't be seen like this in front of my fans and my handsome friend Ash ! I will lost all his respect on me.. Kyaa~!"

Pikachu and Piplup exchanged glances again and, as if in perfect sync, each rolled over, mimicking his mock-tragic faint with their own exaggerated squeaks and flails.

Dawn couldn't hold back anymore, bursting into a fit of laughter, doubling over as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. She clutched her stomach, unable to keep her self control.

"Okay, okay, I get it! Just.. stop already!" she said between giggles, wiping a tear from her eye. "Oh my gosh, that's so terrible it's actually embarrassing!" she managed to choke out between fits of laughter, her hand now clutching her stomach as she tried to catch her breath.

Ash, seeing her struggle to breathe from laughing so hard, couldn't help but start laughing too. The two of them exchanged embarrassed but amused looks, both caught in the ridiculousness of the moment.

"Hey..! I-I did my best!" Ash protested, though his own laughter betrayed any serious attempt at defending himself.

Without even realizing it, their mockery had slightly eased the tension from their earlier awkward public moment. Dawn could feel it—Somehow, teasing each other had turned the whole situation into something lighter, something they could share and laugh about.

Dawn took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, though her shoulders still shook with the occasional giggle. "Your best is terrible, Ash." She smirked at him, mischief dancing in her eyes.

Ash pouted dramatically. "Terrible? Really? Well, it was supposed to match the awful quality of your earlier impression of me, so I think I nailed it!"

Dawn rolled her eyes, still smiling. "Sure, keep telling yourself that." She nudged him playfully, in a cute way. "But thanks for the laugh. Even if it was at your expense."

Ash's grin softened, and he shrugged in mock modesty. "Anytime. Always here to provide top-notch unintentional comedy just for my close friends."

Dawn snorted, trying to hide how much she appreciated the gesture. "Lucky me, huh? VIP champion club benefits."

Suddenly, Marian's voice boomed through the stadium, announcing the results, snapping them both back to the reality of the contest.

"A-ah! Serena!" Ash's joking tone immediately vanished, replaced with concern. "Look, the results are coming in!"

They both whipped their heads toward the big screen. The judges were inputting their scores, and slowly the final tally appeared: 44 points.

Ash blinked, leaning forward in his seat, his face filled with a mix of pride and confusion. "Wow, she got 44 points! That's... good, right?" He scratched his head, clearly uncertain.

Dawn shot him an amused glance, raising an eyebrow. I take it you've forgotten how scoring works in contests like this, huh?" She teased, then explained, "44 is solid—not perfect, but definitely impressive. Looks like she won't have to blame you for, uh, that little TV appearance of yours."

Ash laughed sheepishly. "Haha, yeah… now all my friends definitely know where I am if they were wondering." He rubbed the back of his head, still unsure. Then, still frowning a little, he leaned toward her. "But wait... 44 points? Isn't that, like, close to the highest score? Shouldn't she be safe now?"

Dawn held back a smirk as she held up her hand, counting on her fingers as if explaining to a child. "Alright, little pupil, here's the thing.. it depends of the contest. Let me explain~! Here, the highest score is 50. Each judge can give up to 10 points. So, while 44 is a great score, it's not the best. So.. Serena's spot isn't guaranteed. And we've still got plenty of contestants to go."

Ash narrowed his eyes at her playful, slightly condescending tone. "So, getting perfect 10s is… rare, huh?" He nodded as though trying to sound like an expert now.

Dawn nodded back, a grin tugging at her lips as she enjoyed watching him piece it together. "Exactly. Even the best performers rarely get all 10s. There's always that one judge who refuses to give a perfect score, no matter how amazing the performance is."

Ash scratched his chin thoughtfully, leaning back in his seat. "Hmm… so 44 is six points away from a perfect score. That's not bad! How is that not enough to qualify?"

Dawn sighed softly, her eyes flicking back to the stage. "You already know, only the top 16 scorers move on to the next round."

Her tone was a mix of seriousness and understanding as she continued.

"The rules here are slighlty different from usual contests, Ash. It's not just about being good; you have to be surprising, excellent and flawless. This is an elite competition, after all. Six points may not sound like much, but for a performer, those few points can be the difference between qualifying and going home. So until everyone has performed, it's a mental waiting game for all the coordinators."

Ash nodded, his expression growing more serious. Dawn's explanation had clarified the stakes. He could see the parallel between contests and his own experiences in battling—where even a small mistake could mean the end. "I see," he said, his tone more thoughtful. "So, it's not just about talent or beautiful performance; it's about precision."

Dawn watched him as he processed the situation, her smile softening as he grasped the importance of every point. Ash's newfound understanding reminded her that he wasn't as clueless as she sometimes thought—he just needed things put in a different perspective.

"Right... I understand now. A mere six points can make all the difference," Ash said, a hint of concern crossing his features. "I just hope it doesn't stress her out too much."

Dawn noticed the slight worry in his voice when he mentioned Serena. She gave him a comforting smile. "I'm sure she'll be fine, Ash. Stress is normal for a coordinator, especially in a prestigious contest like this. If Serena made it this far, she's learned how to recover from her mistakes."

As the next coordinator prepared to take the stage, Dawn's curiosity got the best of her. She glanced sideways at Ash, a teasing edge creeping into her voice.

"I know you support all your friends, but be honest... who would you bet on for the final victory..?"

Did you find the ending a little abrupt?

Well.. I have divided this chapter into two parts. Otherwise, it would have taken longer to publish and the chapter would have been seriously long!

Part two is coming soon! See yah!