For this chapter, I'm going to be switching between Peter and MJ to show the progress in their respective competitions. Hope it's not too confusing.
Episode 112: Strategic Musings!
While Quill was still in the Sokovia Realm battling Jean, Peter decided to take all of his Marémon out of their PDBs except for Spidermin, who was always by his side. He examined each of them and figured which ones could have the best fighting chance against Jean's Mutant-Type Marémon Kitmar and Mutant/Space-Type Phoevix. These included: Prodiwing, a Normal/Magic-Type that resembled a pale yellow bipedal hawk with red cape-like wings, the Magic-Type Shadusk Cassie, who resembled a shadow shaped like a small human, Hornetech, a Tech/Flying-Type that resembled a purple cicada with shiny metallic wings, and the Weapon/Mutant-Type Rikoshay, which resembled a blue bipedal lizard with golden metal discs on its arms.
"Now Spidermin, since you're a Mutant/Tech-Type, you might be able to stand up to Kitmar," Peter said with Spidermin nodding in agreement. "Same goes for Rikoshay since he's part Mutant. It's too bad none of you are Element-Type, which is strong against Mutant-Types, or Super since Space-Type Marémon are weak to those. But since Space-Types are strong against Flying, I won't use Hornetech for this battle."
Hearing that, Hornetech lowered his head in disappointment.
"I'm sorry," Peter apologized, petting Hornetech's head. "You'll get your chance in another battle down the line."
Just then, the rainbow-colored portal to the Sokovia Realm opened and Quill emerged with a disappointed look on his face.
"That was quick," Peter remarked. "What happened?"
"I made a huge mistake," Quill grumbled. "Because Kitmar looked weak, I decided to use Brax as my first Marémon for battle. Then I remembered Super-Type Marémon are weak against Mutant, but it was too late as Brax got wiped out by Kitmar. So I switched to Rocoon who managed to beat Kitmar, but Phoevix was too strong for him to handle. And since I was only allowed to use two Marémon at a time, I lost. But then I realized if I had used Rocoon to battle Kitmar instead of Brax, I could have saved Brax for dealing with Phoevix because Super-Type Marémon are effective against Space-Types."
"Yeah, that makes since because Phoevix is part Space-Type," Peter agreed. "I'm sorry to hear that you lost."
"Call it a warm-up!" Quill declared. "Once I get my Marémon healed up, I'll be coming back for a rematch."
"Okay. And when we get our badges, let's finish that battle we started at Xavier's school."
"Sure thing!"
"All right, ladies, here's how the Intimacy Ribbon Contest will go down," Barton said to the Affection Ribbon competitors behind Sokovia City's Marémon Theater, which was next to the river that ran through the city and resembled a large amphitheater.
MJ bit her lip nervously, while Gwen straightened herself out. Next to them stood Liz Allen and Felicia Hardy, who both seemed calmer by comparison.
"For the first round, each of you will present your Marémon onstage and demonstrate how much affection it has for you," Barton explained. "Then in the second round, you will battle with your chosen Marémon in pairs while showing how much you care for your Marémon. After the battle, the judges which will include myself, Nurse Linda, and Agnes Bohner will determine who the winners are."
Hearing Agnes' name made the girls flinch as they still remembered Wanda's battle with Agnes in the Westview Realm.
"Now I'm aware of what Agnes did in Sokovia City. But I can assure you she's perfectly harmless," Barton said. "After all, she had her memories wiped by Wanda and then volunteered to be a judge."
"Wait," Gwen said. "You're telling me that you, Pepper Potts, and Hope van Dyn are not the three consistent judges for the Affection Ribbon contests?"
"Typically, we are. But we've had to split ourselves between the different locations because of the situation in New Agard Town and the Anomaly here in Sokovia City," said Barton. "While Miss Potts went on to Kamar-Taj Village, I stayed here and Miss van Dyn went to New Asgard Town to judge later contestants for the Encouragement Ribbon. Though to make sure there were enough judges at each location, we had willing volunteers. For instance, Nurse Linda volunteered at both the Encouragement and current Intimacy Ribbon Contests.
"But the third judge was different. While Frigga Odinson volunteered for the Encouragement Ribbon Contest in New Asgard Town, Sokovia City's third judge is currently Agnes Bohner. Now by the time we get to Baxter City, it'll be back to just me, Miss Potts and van Dyn."
"I hope so," Liz sighed. "This whole situation is getting to be a real pain."
"Couldn't agree with you more," Gwen added.
"All right, the first round will start in ten minutes," Barton said and walked away. "I'm looking forward to seeing your Marémon in action."
After Barton left, the girls picked the Marémon they were going to demonstrate for the contest and dressed them up accordingly while wearing matching outfits.
"Is this what would've happened if the Dark Elves didn't try to invade New Asgard Town?" MJ wondered out loud.
"Pretty much," Felicia said. "I think you, Liz, and Gwen should consider yourselves lucky that Miss Potts awarded the Encouragement Ribbon for free to begin with. Because this competition is tougher than it looks."
"Says the girl who only started participating in it a week ago," Liz taunted. "I wouldn't be surprised if you stole your Encouragement Ribbon—given your dad's reputation as the infamous burglar The Cat."
"You're one to talk, Miss Daughter-of-The-Vulture," Felicia taunted.
Maddened, Liz took out her PDB and summoned the vulture-shaped Marémon Vulcarrion. But just before Felicia could summon her cat-shaped Marémon Blaccet, a teenage boy suddenly entered the backstage area. He had black hair with white highlights.
"Hey, is this the Marémon Lovers Festival competition for the Intimacy Ribbon?" the boy asked.
"Yeah," MJ said.
The black-haired boy sighed in relief. "I thought I missed it."
"Are you participating in the Marémon Lovers Festival competition too?" Gwen asked.
"I sure am," the black-haired boy said and pressed his hand against his chest. "My name is Jean-Paul Beaubier. I recently won the Encouragement Ribbon in New Asgard Town and I just arrived in Sokovia City after it was deemed safe following the Anomaly incident."
"Wait, I know you!" Felicia exclaimed. "You're Northstar, and you used to be in the Avengers branch group Alpha Flight in Kanadia City, right?"
"That I was," Jean-Paul said in an embarrassed tone. "But I'm doing my own thing now."
"Is it because of your psychotic sister Jeanne-Marie?" Felicia guessed.
Hearing that, Jean-Paul looked angry which made MJ nervous.
To be continued…