Well, here it is, the twenty-fourth part of the fifth and final installment in my 'Heart' series on the right day as promised. After finding out where and when the first Contest is, Dawn's focus shifted to it so that she could go one and done. Now it's time for that Contest but there are a few who will try and stop her from doing that in Alola but can they? It's time to find out as the Iki Town Contest is at hand. That is all the administrative stuff I have for this Part and while there are no guest reviews to respond to or questions to answer, do please keep your reviews coming as I love hearing from y'all, there is a notice I have to make regarding current issues on this site and how to remain in the loop for stories like this so onto the notice.
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That is it for this pre-Part note which means that it is once again time to sit back which and enjoy the latest installment in Heart of Champions. Part CCXIII: Sinnoh Showdown in Alola.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.
Part CCXIII: Sinnoh Showdown in Alola
"Excited?" Iris asked as she and Dawn hung out in the small, indoor, air conditioned, waiting room that was attached to the stadium in Iki Town. "It's you're first Alola Contest after all."
"I'm always excited for new Contests." Dawn said with a smile as she felt the thrill of competition and nerves she got when about to compete. "And a new region only adds to it. A shame this will be my only one."
"That confident?" Iris asked. "There's some strong competition today, I won't make it easy if we face off."
"I know but I'm still confident, mental attitude is important in Contests as well." Dawn said. "I'm back in the groove now after a rough start to my Majestic Festival journey and I need to make up for the loses I had in Kalos so I'm going for a one and done approach in Alola. It is why I've practiced so hard over the last few days."
Dawn wasn't wrong, ever since they'd learned of where and when the Contest was she'd been almost entirely focused on it. Well they had spent the rest of the day after finding out in Hau'oli City and had a great time, Mallow's father's restaurant was as good as advertised, especially the juice, and the activities were a lot of fun but Dawn was in Alola for the Contest first and foremost so she had to focus on that. Once she won it then she could have fun while Ash prepared for his battle with Gladion whenever that was as it still hadn't been set up.
That was why, while Ash spent the last few days trying to eat Hau'oli City out of all its food, Dawn had remained in the Pokémon School focused on her training. She'd only left for meals that they had in the city so that she could go to new places there but otherwise it was all about the Contest. The others all trained with her, even Ash and the boys, so that she had a good range of training partners to practice against but they couldn't keep up with her and the Pokémon she'd brought in for it.
One thing that Dawn hadn't asked about but had learned afterwards was that Alola didn't have any Pokémon requirement rules like other regions. She could enter with a team of 6 Pokémon and not declare which 4 she'd use like in Kalos, she could use them multiple times if she wanted, and she could Mega Evolve. Her only restriction was no Z-Moves but that didn't matter to her.
As such, and because she was training with Iris for a good part of the time, Dawn had brought in 4 more Pokémon and trained equally with them so that not even Iris knew what was going to come, though as Dawn wasn't using her new Popplio she only had 5 to guess from. Regardless, that would help Dawn should she face Iris and she knew that Iris was doing the same and holding back some Pokémon that she was training away from Dawn so that she didn't see them.
The biggest sign of that was that Iris still refused to show Dawn her Alolan Exeggutor saying that it was for the Contest and that training it required a special area where she worked with Samson for reasons she didn't disclose. As such, all Dawn saw was Iris's Axew, Altaria, Emolga, Excadrill, and Drampa and Dawn knew that Iris's Pokémon storage was currently registered to the school so her friend had access to all of her Pokémon but that was only fair. Iris knew the 5 that Dawn might use, she'd had to restrain herself from helping with one of them, but not who she'd use in the end, which only made things more interesting for the coming Contest.
Other than that, however, there really wasn't much to report over the last few days. Ash's presence had been noted in Alola when he and Pikachu had been mobbed at the mall and it was clear that Gladion would know he was here by this point but had yet to issue his challenge. However, other than that it had just been training as normal for Dawn until the day before when Kukui had sorted out the transport to take all of them to Iki Town deep inland so that they could spend the night in the Pokémon Center there before today's Contest.
Even then Dawn trained a little that night though it was more going over things with her team, mainly a walkthrough of her appeal, than actual training so that they were all 100% for the coming Contest. Now it was here and Dawn couldn't wait.
She had been surprised by the stadium though. It was small and just outside the city made from wood with a few wooden buildings around it for registration, a waiting room, and where coordinators could get lunch in the area under the side where there were no seats due to the jumbotron. Spectators had their own food court set up outside the stadium and so while Dawn and Iris went to register, Ash and the others, including Dawn's Popplio who Lana carried so that he could watch the Contest, went to get good seats and watch the coming Contest with wishes of luck to Dawn and Iris.
They'd need it as it was known that Jessilina would be in the Contest and in fact she was already in the waiting room when they entered sitting primly and properly on a bench along one wall and exchanging a nod with them when they saw her. There was no need for words with her and besides Jessilina had never been the chatty type in the waiting room, something Dawn was more than fine with as she and Iris found their own spot. As they did the other coordinators present gave then a wide berth either out of fear, respect, or indifference Dawn couldn't tell as she didn't know much about the caliber of Alola's Contests.
"You can say that again." Iris said getting Dawn's attention. "You've been a beast preparing for this Contest. I've never actually seen you prepare other than the Wallace Cup in Hoenn and even then you weren't this focused."
"That's because I want to have fun in Alola but my time is limited after Kalos so I have to win if I want to do that whereas the Wallace Cup in Hoenn was more a fun detour that didn't matter too much if I lost." Dawn said. "Plus this year the Wallace Cup is in Unova which is where Serena is so we know that we're going to have to spend more time there than most regions and Johto and Kanto are connected so we can amalgamate those regions a bit but my setbacks in Kalos have put me behind. May's already earned her second ribbon and is going for her third now, I've got to catch up and with 7 more needed it's a time crunch."
"Yeah when I heard the requirements I could tell that it was for the best of the best given how grueling qualifying in one year is." Iris said. "Really shows who's earned their titles though and some are making good time already."
"That they are so I need to pick up the pace a bit but those with 3 or 4 ribbons already are just flying in for a Contest and leaving as soon as they win, I want to actually enjoy the regions I visit a bit." Dawn said. "Especially the ones I hadn't visited before this year like Alola and savor the experience. That said, how many will advance? There aren't that many in the Contest from what I've noticed."
"Only 14 registered." Iris said, they'd been the last two and gotten the random slot assignments when they registered though the registration had closed shortly after they'd done so with no one new coming along. "But it's still 8 so over half for this Contest. It helps keep people interested as battles are always fun to watch and a lot of people get battle experience in Alola that they wouldn't necessarily get in the other regions."
"Huh, I never really thought of that." Dawn admitted. "It isn't common for that as most Contests are in the mid-20s for coordinator registrations and sometimes it's in the 30s."
"Alola's small." Iris said. "If there are less than 10 who've registered for the Contest then they drop it to 4 advancing but otherwise this gives more entertainment and training as well as making it more of an event with the 3 rounds of battles. We had a few come by seeking ribbons via the hybrid method here last year having only been able to get 2 in other regions before realizing that it would be easier in Alola. The hope is that Alola can start to compete with the other regions in time as Contests grow in popularity but for now we averaged 10 to 20 per Contest depending on the island and location. Iki isn't costal or touristy so it's going to be less."
"I see well that's fine with me, the more attention that Contests get the better." Dawn said as the TV turned on and she realized something she hadn't asked about yet. "Ah, which sister is it."
Before Iris could finish a familiar looking woman with light brown hair in the same style as the other MCs that Dawn knew appeared on the screen. As she did, the three expected judges, who by this point it was clear that Sukizo and Mr. Contesta were just like Joy, Jenny, and Don George in Unova took their seats at podiums with the jumbotron behind them set into the side of empty seats.
This woman however was very different to the others Dawn had seen and even more laid back and casual than Lilian had been in Kanto as all she wore was a white bikini top that was tasteful and conservative enough to be appropriate for the situation, a pale yellow skirt, flip flops and an orange baseball had to keep the sun out of her eyes. It was a fitting outfit and look for Alola though it wouldn't have worked in any of the other regions.
"Welcome to Iki Town Contest lovers!" The woman said pumping a fist in the air as the crowd cheered showing a much more upbeat attitude than the others had had. "It's me, Gillian Meridian, your Master of Ceremonies for the Alola region ready to bring you another Contest and folks this is going to be one to remember as we've got a big name in it today so already we're getting the attention from the Top Coordinators seeking the Majestic Festival! Are you pumped for that!"
The crowd cheered at that and Dawn couldn't help but smile at that. It was a big endorsement of Contests for Top Coordinators to come to them for the Majestic Festival as Alola's circuit was the weakest so they didn't attract top tier talent which made Jessilina's decision big for them, and to make it clear that there was one here, one who all would want to beat, well it only added to it.
"However I won't reveal who the Top Coordinator is, you'll have to wait and see which of the many Top Coordinators is the latest to grace the Alola region's circuit." Gillian said coyly raising a finger to her lips and smiling to the camera. "And that's not the only big name we have today so once I'm done with the rules we'll start with one Alola has come to know well to really kick this off. Now for those new or in need of a reminder, Contests in Alola work like this. They start with an appeal where…"
At that Gillian began her explanation and Dawn listened just to make sure that she hadn't missed anything in preparing for this Contest. As she listened Dawn got into the zone as she was randomly the last one up she had to be ready for that and that meant paying attention and seeing how the others did and it all started now. It was time for Dawn to win her first, and only, Alola Contest.
"Alright the rules are over so let's start this off with a name you all know well." Gillian said as Jessie stood in the wings patiently waiting having used Gillian's intro to slip the short distance from the waiting room to the entrance to the stage without the twerpettes noticing. "She's come to Alola to show that we're just as worthy as other regions of having top tier talent seeking to win our Grand Festival and has quickly become a fan favorite as well as the top Contest favorite but with two ribbons already and two Grand Festival semifinal appearances in the past it's no wonder that she's this esteemed. From Sinnoh, the Maiden of Sinnoh herself, Jessilina!"
Jessilina smiled as she walked out to the cheering crowd and gave them a small wave as she made her way to her starting point. She had her entrance down pat at this point with the walk, the smile, and the way she interacted with the cheering masses all perfected as part of her persona.
She had the crowd loving her, which she in turn loved, and after this appeal she'd really reinforce that and set herself up for the battles to come where she had a true challenge waiting for her, one that beating wouldn't just be personally satisfying for her but also boost her image even more. All she had to do was nail this appeal and as she came to a stop and drew her Poke Ball, Jessie knew that she'd nail it.
"Gourgeist, come on out and dazzle!" Jessie said as she tossed her Poke Ball out the moment she came to a stop. "Start us out with Leech Seed."
"Gourgeist." Gourgeist sang as she let out the Leach Seeds the moment she burst from her Poke Ball and appeared in the air in front of Jessie, hovering there as she unleashed her move.
Gourgeist slightly moved her head as she worked so that the seeds hit the ground to form a diamond pattern where they burst and vines shot into the air as the effects of the move where shown. This was just what Jessie was going for and she moved swiftly onto the next part of the appeal so as to maximize the presence of the created vines.
"Now move above them and blast them with Shadow Ball, one for each." Jessie ordered. "And then follow that up with a Seed Bomb into the air above you."
"Gourgeist." Gourgeist said with a nod as she flew over to the vines that were just reaching the end of their ascent.
The moment she was above them and right in the middle of the diamond pattern she'd created, Gourgeist looked down, mouth open, and blast out four Shadow Balls at the vines as she spun 360 degrees so that she hit each in turn. To those with a keen eye, like the judges, they'd be able to tell that Gourgeist hit the vines in such a way that her first Shadow Ball hit the first Leech Seed created vine and then second, third, and fourth in that order.
It was a great display of timing and coordination in an appeal and that was just the midpoint as Gourgeist then tilted her head back as the moves exploded beneath her and lit her up for all to see and sent out her Seed Bomb high into the air where it too exploded. The timing was slightly off but she still managed to just about ensure that there were two explosions going off, one above and one below Gourgeist with her right in the middle as a sandwich filling for all to see and completely unaffected by them.
This was the meat of the appeal, the skill that would ensure that Jessie advanced and really showed off what she could do while both being different to her past appeals in Alola and making it clear that she was a threat to Dawn. However, it wasn't the end of the appeal and as the Seed Bomb explosion went off Jessie gave her final order.
"Descend with a spinning Dark Pulse." Jessie said. "Aim it down and end as we practiced."
"Gourgeist!" Gourgeist cried as the Seed Bomb explosion died out, the ones below her had already died out by this point, and looked down as she blasted out her Dark Pulse as she began to fall to the ground while spinning.
The rings of black, Dark type power, that were imbued with dark thoughts tore from Gourgeist's mouth as she gracefully spun while keeping it up for three rotations so that all could see her before she ended the move and floated just above the ground and right in front of the judges. As she did she bowed gracefully while Jessie did the same indicating that the appeal was over and the crowd erupted as soon as they realized it.
"Another great appeal and what a way to start the Contest!" Gillian said excitedly bouncing on her feet as the crowd died down and Jessie and Gourgeist rose from their bows. "Do our judges agree with me though?"
"As we've come to expect from Jessilina that was a strong and varied appeal which differed from her last one." Mr. Contesta said with a nod. "And yet didn't lose anything in the different style. Well done."
"Yes, remarkable." Sukizo said smiling the smile he used when he was pleased.
"Gourgeist looked so cute during that and the light she gives off was bright." Nurse Joy added. "Jessilina has raised it well."
Jessie just smiled at that as she and Gourgeist bowed again before she recalled her Pokémon and left whispering thanks to Gourgeist as she walked. She'd set the bar for the Contest nice and high at a height few could reach. Now it was time to see if the twerpettes could reach it and Jessie would pay close attention to them as she left the stage while the next Coordinator was introduced knowing that she'd advanced and ready to watch the only threats to her in the battles do so as well.
"Well that was an interesting one." Gillian said as the guy before Iris shook his head at the failed appeal, it had been risky and his Pokémon just wasn't ready yet but Alola was the best place to hone appeals like that as few cared if you didn't do well in them. "Moving on we have one of the other favorites this year. She has three ribbons that she has won over the last two years and is the only one to beat Jessilina this year but more importantly she was the runner up in last year's first ever Manalo Conference so she's a dual threat trainer. From the Village of Dragons in Unova, the Dragon of Unova herself, Iris!"
This got a cheer and Iris smiled at that as she walked out to the crowd and to her starting point. She was focused solely on her appeal as that was her weaker aspect of Contests. She needed to nail it and live up to her nickname, one she loved, so that she could get to the battles that were what she really liked in Contests and she'd do so by rocking another Contest with a dragon type and advance to the battles and the chance to face Dawn in them. It was going to be good; she knew it as she reached the starting point and tossed out her Poke Ball as she came to a halt.
"Drampa, go." Iris said tossing out her Poke Ball. "Start us with Dragon Rage."
There was a roar as the normal and dragon type that was native to Alola burst from its Poke Ball and landed in front of Iris on the stage before opening its mouth and unleashing a shock wave across the stage that all could hear and see showing how well trained Drampa was. That was just the set up and already Iris was following it up.
"Now follow with Steel Wing so you can reach the center." Iris said as the Dragon Rage shot over the stage. "And then leap into the air as soon as you're there."
Drampa cried out again and the wing things on its side turned to steel as it shot forward after the shock wave, keeping up in its wake as the shock wave crossed the stage showing impressive speed in the process while also showing what a move that would counter a weakness of Drampa could do. Then, the moment that it reached the middle it leapt into the air, it's momentum carrying it a bit past the midpoint but that shouldn't be too detrimental as Iris called out her next moves, a finishing combo that would really show things off she felt.
"Now blanket the stage in Dragon Breath!" Iris said as Drampa leapt into the air. "And then use Protect as you fall into it."
Drampa roared as it lowered its long neck, and blasted down covering the stage in the powerful breath attack while using its physiological advantage to cover the whole area without turning around, which looked really good. This was when people started to realize that it would fall into the breath below it and cause damage dur to Drampa's weakness to its own type but before that could happen and just as Drampa began to fall Protect kicked in and a sphere green light encased it.
The moment it did the Protect really showed off the work Iris had done grooming her Pokémon as the green of Protect mixed well with Drampa's colors. That was just the added effect, though, as the main thing was that it protected Drampa from the Dragon Breath still on the stage so that it was able to land without any issue even if it wasn't facing the judges.
Still it was a bold display and worked well without hindering anything so it would go down well with the judges. Iris knew this as Drampa turned and trotted back to the middle before turning and bowing its head to the judges while Iris did the same from her own position.
In another region with a larger coordinator pool and more talent this would be a fringe appeal that may or may not make it to the battles depending on the level of competition present, Dawn would tell Iris as much later, but in Alola it was a strong one and one that Iris could improve on with the right guidance, which she had. Naturally the crowd weren't aware of these details, they just enjoyed the show and cheered as it ended and Iris and Drampa bowed.
"The Dragon strikes again and reminds us why we shouldn't be afraid of dragon types." Gillian said as Iris and Drampa rose from their bows. "Well I think so at least but do our judges concur with me?"
"As is almost always the case Iris shows us that there is a great variety in what a dragon type can do and what they bring to Contests." Mr. Contesta said. "Which is something that we like to see."
"Yes, remarkable." Sukizo said his tone showing that he was pleased with the appeal.
"Drampa looked great out there, Iris really lives up to her type expertise." Nurse Joy added. "She could teach classed on how to raise a dragon type properly."
Iris smiled at that as she bowed again and Drampa lowered its head before she recalled it and turned to leave as Gillian was wrapping up her appeal and introducing the next coordinator. Iris's appeal was 8th so just past the hallway point of the appeals while Dawn's was the final one so Iris hurried back to watch her friend go because after both her and Jessilina had done well she knew one thing; Dawn wasn't going to be upstaged by them.
This Contest was about to be in for a treat at the end and Iris intended to enjoy it and support her friend as she left the stage. Then, as soon as she could, she hurried back to the waiting room for the rest of the appeals.
"Well that was good." Gillian said as the person before Dawn finished an appeal that had a good shot here and quickly left the stage. "But folks we've saved our potential best for last. I assure you this was random and not planned but our final coordinator is one of great renown because she's not just a coordinator but a Top Coordinator going for her Alola Ribbon as part of the Majestic Class qualification. She won it all in Kanto a few years ago in a final that is still talked about to this day but she's not from Kanto, she's from Twinleaf Town in the Sinnoh region. That's right folks, after last year's bad representation of that town and region we now have the best one possible to redeem it because it's time for the Prodigy of Sinnoh herself, Dawn!"
Dawn smiled at the overhyped intro as she walked out and the crowd roared for her, or more likely her reputation, despite feeling that it was a little much. Still, there was one thing that Gillian had said that had gotten to Dawn and she fully intended to live up to it, she had to redeem not just her region's reputation in Alola but also her hometown's after what Kenny no doubt did to damage it the year before. She would do so in one Contest and remind people that he was the exception to those from Twinleaf Town and not the rule as she reached the starting point and pulled out her Poke Ball.
"Furfrou, spotlight!" Dawn cried as she threw the Poke Ball out when she came to a stop. "Start us off with Double Team and then spread out in a circle facing the middle. Kayleigh showed us how useful this move is for a Furfrou in a Freestyle so we can't let her down."
Furfrou barked as she came out of her Poke Ball and instantly several shadow clones of her appeared as she hit the ground and ran forward, the clones doing the same as they encircled the center of the stage in seconds. This was a move that Dawn had seen Kayleigh use to great effect in Freestyles and had had Kayleigh help her own Furfrou learn so that she could maximize it as well. Dawn already knew the usefulness of Double Team in an appeal, she'd even given Kayleigh tips on its use in appeals, but Kayleigh was an expert at Furfrou training so she was able to give Dawn tips to maximize it with her own Furfrou.
This was shown as Furfrou made a circle around the center with the clones so that they were all equidistant form each other. This was all part of their intensive training for the Iki Contest and Dawn gave the order the moment that it would be smoothest before the Furfrous reached their end points.
"Charge Beam!" Dawn said right before the Furfrous came to a halt.
At that the Furfrous all raised their heads, opened their mouths and unleashed a concentrated bundle of yellow electricity into the air. They'd angled it such that the real one would soar out of the top of the stadium and the others would all vanish as they hit the beam at the same time from several angles which caused a great scene and allowed everyone to trace back to the real Furfrou who'd sent out the beam as the yellow blast tore through the air. It was a great sight for all to see and as it ended Dawn gave the next order.
"Echoed Voice." Dawn called out. "Dance as the clones vanish and keep it up until they're all are gone."
All eyes were now on the real Furfrou that had been identified by Charge beam who barked happily and let out the echoing voice as she and the others leapt forward and began to dance to the sounds the real one was making moving in near unison with each other. As the first Echoed Voice ended a clone vanished and Furfrou used it again causing three to vanish this time when it ended as Furfrou and her clones danced and then a final time and the 5 remaining vanished showing the successive increases in damage it can cause if used over and over again.
This was all done as Furfrou was dancing to the sound, a great display of coordination right there but it was made even more so by Furfrou finishing the last one with a flip that landed near dead center of the stage facing the judges as the last clones vanished. As she did, Dawn gave the final order, one she'd picked up from watching Amelia showing that even a negative rival could help her improve though Furfrou already knew the move before preparing for this Contest.
"Attract." Dawn said.
"Furfrou." Furfrou barked as she winked and sent hearts out and right at the judges.
It was a little cheesy but it worked and showed who Dawn was appealing to as well as the timing and coordination needed to actually pull all this off in a smooth and orderly fashion. It worked as the judges were smiling when the hearts hit them and as they burst Furfrou went into a proper bow just like what Kayleigh and her Furfrou had taught her while Dawn curtsied to the judges as best she could in a mini skirt. At that the crowd roared louder than they had all day with the conclusion of the appeals and what was the best that many of them had seen that day.
"Wow, just wow, we've seen Top Coordinators before Dawn this year but not many and that might be the best of the lot." Gillian said as Dawn and Furfrou rose from their curtsy and bow respectively. "Though it is early so who knows if that remains. Still it reminds us of what all coordinators are aiming for but do our judges thinks so as well? That's the important thing."
"I've heard a lot about Dawn from my compatriots and am pleased to see that she lives up to her reputation just like other Top Coordinators do." Mr. Contesta said. "It is this kind of reputation that will boost Contests here in Alola which is just what we like to see. Well done."
"Yes, remarkable." Sukizo said in his usual happy tone and Dawn was certain all the Sukizos were like this.
"Dawn really knows how to present and care for a Pokémon, her Furfrou was practically shinning out there and the different dye job to the usual one used in a Diamond Trim really adds to it." Nurse Joy said. "This is what years on the circuit learning various grooming and care tips can bring out, I'm impressed."
Dawn smiled at all that as she curtsied again while Furfrou bowed before she recalled her Pokémon and turned to leave while Gillian wrapped up the appeals and those who advanced were announced. While Dawn didn't doubt that she'd advance she hurried back to the waiting room to make sure that she did just that and thanks to technology she was just in time for the announcement as she entered and stopped to look at the screen there rather than go over to stand with Iris.
"…have advanced!" Gillian was saying over the speakers as the 8 trainer cards on the screen flipped over just as Dawn came to a stop in the waiting room.
The cards flipped over and Dawn saw just what she expected in the first row, her picture second from the left. To add to it she had Jessilina and Iris's pictures on either side of hers so it was clear that they'd all advanced to the battle round. That was to be expected but it was always a relief to have the confirmation there in front of them.
"Congratulations!" Gillian said as the cards flipped over and shuffled before moving to either side of the screen and forming a bracket that way with 4 on each side leading to the final in the center which was new to Dawn but a nice difference from how other regions did it. "And now the random draw! These are the battles that will determine who wins the Iki Ribbon!"
The cards flipped over and revealed the first round of the battles and the numbers by each battle showed the order so they'd start with the left side battles and then the right side and to add to it all Jessilina was in the first battle just like how she'd been the first appeal. The second was two people who Dawn didn't recognize while the top right was Iris's and she ended the battles in the bottom right. That meant that Dawn would face Iris first in the semifinals, providing that they both won, and then Jessilina in the finals if the Sinnoh women won out.
Dawn was more than fine with this, as was Jessie from where she was looking at the bracket, and with it done Dawn moved to be with Iris as Gillian reappeared on the screen to thank all who'd come, welcome them back to the next Contest, and announce the lunch break before the battles resumed in an hour's time.
"Well that went as we'd expected." Iris said as Dawn reached her having noticed that Dawn stopped to watch the draw the moment she made it back to the waiting room. "Not a surprise at all though I do know that we can be knocked out in appeals, it happened to all four of us at least once last year when we were still getting used to Contests and learning what does and doesn't work in them."
"Yeah I've been there before myself, twice in fact." Dawn said as the coordinators who'd been knocked out left while those remaining took a moment to think before heading out as well for food or to find a different place to get ready for the battles, including Jessilina, leaving just Iris and Dawn for the moment. "It's why I never take them for granted these days."
"A good plan." Iris said. "And today it worked out. I don't intend to lose my battle; I want to face you in one."
"Likewise." Dawn said as Iris's stomach roared at a volume that Ash's would be proud of, and no doubt was roaring at right now as well. "But I think food and a little relaxation is needed. No point in overstressing what is to come."
"Agreed." Iris said. "And the food at these is good, you're in for a treat."
"Then lead the way." Dawn said with a smile.
Iris nodded and they headed out of the waiting room and to the small area set up for coordinators regardless of if they advanced or not to get food and then return to the waiting room with it to enjoy it and chat a bit. They had an hour to get ready and the girls fully planned to be when the battles rolled around. One thing was sure, with all 3 of the favorites for the Iki Ribbon advancing the battles were sure to be ones that Alola would remember for the rest of the season.
At first the battles went as anyone would expect when they started after lunch. Jessie was the first one up and she was facing an Alolan from Akala Island in the first battle which she handily won with her Frillish over her opponents Sandygast with a Battle Off thanks to the two type advantages over the one her opponent had. It was a solid showing though, the Alolan landed a good blow on Frillish during it but in the end Jessie's skill overwhelmed him and she claimed the Battle Off with a trio of super effective hits while hiding in a Mist attack in the 4th minute to advance to the semis.
After that was the battle where Iris and Dawn didn't know the coordinators, both were not Alolan but not from an established region either, before it was time for Iris's battle so she went during the second quarterfinal while Dawn watched it to see how good these coordinators were. When that ended with a guy from Galar winning it on points, he certainly had potential, Dawn headed off to the wings and watched Iris's battle before her own.
Iris's went about as one would expect. Her reputation and near exclusive use of dragon types, which she continued with her Altaria in the quarterfinals, meant that she could be reliably predicted and so all you needed was an ice or fairy type to be able to counter her.
That's just what Iris's opponent, a trainer from Johto who had won two ribbons there a few years ago, did just that with a Jigglypuff. However, despite her clear discomfort, Iris held herself together and put on an aerial display of evasion to avoid the fairy type attacks and countered with non-dragon type attacks to win on points with 40% remaining to her opponent's 27%.
Dawn had expected as much from Iris and gave her a high five as the girl left before she walked out to face her own opponent, an Alolan native who was clearly nervous at facing Dawn as she got another glowing introduction. Still, the girl and her Stufful, an Alolan normal and fighting type, put on a good effort but she was clearly a rookie and while Dawn didn't give it her all so as to not crush her as the girl clearly enjoyed Contests, she couldn't fully hold back and even with a type disadvantage for her Helioptile she still won with two full bars more than her opponent at the end of the battle having focused on evasion and counters.
The points bar was something Dawn had noted as soon as the battles began as another difference in Alola as she left the stage and went to wait in the wings for her upcoming semifinal against Iris, and watch Jessilina's expected win. How the points bar looked had changed from region to region with some going for circular and some horizontal bars but Alola did it different with 4 bars of 25% each rather than a full bar.
It wasn't a bad idea and was easy to follow as Dawn watch Jessilina use her Wobbuffet to counter and reflect her way to a victory by points, she had a full bar on the guy at the end, over some Galarian Pokémon that Dawn didn't recognize as it gave an easy sense of how the coordinators were doing. That was certainly going to be useful as Jessilina left, she was on the other side from Dawn, and the second semifinal was about to begin.
That meant that it was time for Dawn to get her head in the game. Iris wasn't going to be easy to face as she was a decent battler, not at Ash's level of course but easily strong enough to win 8 gym badges if she ever went down that route, but Dawn had brought in just the Pokémon for Iris and now she was going to show that as the crowd cheered for the impending semifinal that Gillian was about to introduce. Of course Iris knew that Dawn had this Pokémon and was expecting it so that just made things even more interesting.
"Alright folks, we have one of our finalists and now it's time to find our other one and it's guaranteed to be a good one given who's about to battle." Gillian said her excitement clear as Dawn and Iris walked out of their sides and towards the stage. "They've never faced each other in a Contest but both have extensive experience. On one side we have a Top Coordinator and three time Wallace Cup winner who's name now graces the most prestigious ribbon a Coordinator can win and on the other we have a rising star in both Contests and normal battles who herself has made the semifinals of a Wallace Cup and is seeking her 4th Alolan ribbon. That's right folks, it's time for the Prodigy of Sinnoh and the Dragon of Unova to do battle!"
Dawn just smiled as the crowd roared and she and Iris reached their starting points just as Gillian finished her introduction. Gillian was just like her sisters, an expert at hyping up the crowd and she'd really done it this time around but that wasn't what Dawn had to deal with, she had a battle to focus on.
"The Dragon of Unova?" Dawn asked finally bringing up Iris's moniker as the crowd cheered. "I can see why you like that."
"Yeah it really fits me." Iris said grinning, she was ready for this and she couldn't wait to see Dawn's face when she revealed her Pokémon along with the chance to face the Pokémon that she was certain Dawn would use against her and that wasn't just because of the challenge it posed. "I love it."
"It's fitting and well earned." Dawn said pulling her Poke Ball out. "But this time I won't lose to you and your dragons though I think I'll go for a different strategy than last time."
"I was still getting Dragonite under control back then so it wasn't all me." Iris said pulling out her own Poke Ball. "Which means I want a proper win over you and doing so in this setting is perfect. Beating the Prodigy of Sinnoh is a huge boost on the Contest circuit and beating the Pokémon you're going to use will only add to it."
"Oh I know, learned what happens when I get upset in both Kanto and Kalos when I lost to Mollie and Amelia." Dawn said ignoring that loss to Ash in HopHopHop Town as that didn't really count. "But if you want to win you'll have to bring your all. You may have guessed who I'll use, you know I have him and against you it's the logical choice, but that doesn't mean you can beat him."
"I know but I'll do as you said and give it my all." Iris said. "And if you don't do so as well then I will win it so don't disappoint me Dawn."
"Yes ladies, this is just what we love to hear!" Gillian said before Dawn could respond clearly unable to take any more. "And on that challenge, battle begin!"
"Dragalge, spotlight." Dawn said tossing her Poke Ball out.
"Exeggutor, go." Iris said at the same time. "Just as I expected, you're using an amazing and annoying Pokémon. You're only dragon type, Dawn, and not just any but one of the few dragon types that isn't weak to that great evil, but alas it's not great for me either right now."
"What can I say, it's fitting." Dawn said as the Poke Balls burst open and their Pokémon appeared as the timer began to count down. "It was only…what the…! That's an Alolan Exeggutor!"
Dawn's eyes, and Dragalge's for that matter, had gone wide as Iris's Pokémon appeared and landed with a heavy thud before them as both coordinator and Pokémon's eyes went up, and up, and up. It was easily one of the tallest Pokémon she'd ever seen, it was in fact the 4th tallest known Pokémon, towering over Dragalge at over 35 feet in height with almost all of it being neck before it's head was at the top similar to the ones that Dawn had seen before with the three heads there. In addition it had a tail with a strange, head-like thing on the end that was indeed a 4th head.
It was no wonder that Iris hadn't shown her it until now, it was huge. That didn't mean that Dawn wouldn't take it down, she would as she'd done so to Misty's Gyarados so big didn't mean unbeatable, and she had the big advantage with Dragalge's types but still it was a massive Pokémon to look at. Still, the bigger they were the harder they fell.
"Impressive, right?" Iris said with a grin the shock being just what she was going for when she finally showed Exeggutor off. "This is actually why we have to have outdoor stadiums, it's not that uncommon a Pokémon in Alola and the entire reason why I came here because only evolving in Alola does this, as well as adding changing the psychic type to a dragon type. There are reasons for why it's so big, mainly the large amount of sun in Alola, but right now that doesn't matter. Now Exeggutor, use Dragon Hammer!"
"Right this is a battle." Dawn said snapping out of her shock and realizing that this was part of Iris's strategy as it had wasted precious time which against someone like Dawn was a viable and smart strategy as the battle got underway as Exeggutor rumbled forward. "Dragalge, intercept and push through with Poison Tail. I know that you can do it and I trust you to know when to act."
Dragalge roared and his tail fin that he stood on when he was on land glowed purple with poison type power. He had no idea what this move would be but given the massively long neck of the Pokémon before him and the fact that it was leaning its head back and swinging forward and down Dragalge had a feeling he knew how it would work. He'd also heard the word dragon in the attack so he knew it would be super effected if it hit so he had to be stronger as he braced for what was to come.
That and this would take timing to pull off but thankfully that was something he knew well from the year before and so as Exeggutor brough its head down, Dragalge tensed and then leapt up and back as soon as he felt it was right happy that Dawn trusted him so much to act when he felt it was right. That was why, as the head neared him, Dragalge was able to flip back and fully extended his lower body as he swung his poison infused tail fin up and into the descending heads of Exeggutor so that it was the only thing that made contact with the head and tree top thing.
There was a boom as the two attacks slammed into each other and the Coconut and Mock Kelp Pokémon pushed against each other trying to outpower the other so that they could land the super effective hit on the other. Exeggutor had the angle and footing but with the flip and surface area of Dragalge's tail fin was able to cover he was able to make up for that as he pushed through the hit and with a cry broke past it causing Exeggutor to wail in pain from the super effective poison type attack as its head was snapped upwards and back while Dragalge flipped through the hit to land on his tail fin.
While none of the added benefits, those being the increased critical hit ration of Poison Tail or the two chances of poisoning be it from Poison Tail or Dragalge's Poison Touch ability didn't trigger that was fine as it was a super effective attack and with that long neck came a long throw back. There were certainly benefits to Exeggutor's size, and weight as while its neck and heads moved its body didn't, but this wasn't it as it gave Dawn a great opening that she didn't waste for a second.
"Dragon Breath." Dawn cried out.
"Dodge and counter with Stomping Tantrum." Iris countered as Dragalge opened its mouth.
Exeggutor was still reeling from the blow so didn't have the time to evade it as the dragon type breath attack shot out from Dragalge's mouth and slammed into its chest causing it to wail in pain from a second super effective hit. However it was too heavy to be moved by it and as it powered through the blow it roared and took a few steps forward whipping its head down and around in frustration while using the momentum from the earlier Poison Tail landing to its advantage now.
This time it was too fast for Dawn or Dragalge to react, and Dragalge had just closed his mouth anyway, before the head slammed into Dragalge's side and tossed him sideways to crash into the ground hard before rolling over it. As he did Dragalge let out a cry of pain that could only mean that the attack was super effective, which based on the name meant that it was likely a ground type attack though it could be a dragon type one as Dawn had never heard of the move before. Regardless it was still a super effective attack that had knocked Dragalge down and that gave Iris an opening to press her new found advantage.
"Dragon Hammer!" Iris said as Exeggutor turned with the blow to keep Dragalge in its sights. "Press the advantage!"
"Poison Tail!" Dawn cried as Exeggutor took a few steps forward before using the great reach that it had to bring its head down hard and fast. "You got this Dragalge!"
This time Dragalge wasn't in a position to leap and counter or dodge the attack as he was still getting up from the Stomping Tantrum so instead he braced himself for it as he brought his tail fin in and infused it with poison type power for when he could counter. That wasn't a moment too soon before Exeggutor's head slammed into his back and drove him down into the ground with a crash that kicked up dust which covered him and he cried out in pain from the second super effective attack that he'd taken in this battle.
Exeggutor chuckled as it rose its head from the dust though at the angle neither Dawn not Iris could see the purple lines under all 6 of its eyes to show that it had been poisoned by Dragalge's Poison Touch ability. It was still chuckling as the poison rocked through it causing it to shudder but that wasn't noticed because at that moment Dragalge had cried out and leapt from the dust cloud up and at Exeggutor as it rose its head back to its full height with his tail fin glowing purple. Then, as Exeggutor shuddered, Dragalge spun in the air to slap the fin across Exeggutor's heads as it reached they finished raising.
The blow, which this time around was a critical hit, staggered Exeggutor to the side a bit and Dragalge flipped through the air as he fell through it so that he could land on his tail fin battered but still in it as Exeggutor wailed in pain and swung its head around. As it did there was another shudder and Dawn finally noticed what was going on. Something had managed to poison Exeggutor which meant that it was time to break out the finishing move and one which Dawn had taught Dragalge recently, with Ash's Gengar's help, to take full advantage of Dragalge's ability.
"Venoshock!" Dawn called out. "If it dodges keep it up because we just need one hit to land to end this, I know it!"
"Evade and use Stomping Tantrum again." Iris called out realizing the same thing. "We can't let that hit!"
Exeggutor roared in frustration as it staggered and swung its heads around, body moving as Dragalge blasted out the special liquid that was Venoshock. Despite its size, Exeggutor was rather narrow due to it mostly being neck so with some surprisingly graceful footwork it was able to move to the side of the liquid causing it to miss as it swung its heads down and around once again using its reach to its advantage to slam them into Dragalge's side a few moments after Venoshock ended and blasted Dragalge away, again.
Once again Dragalge cried out in pain as he was tossed away with a super effective attack but he still had a bit of health left he pushed through it to target and now shivering Exeggutor who was rocked by another bout of poison. Rather than focus on landing, Dragalge blasted out the Venoshock while he was still in the air and as Exeggutor was poisoned and couldn't move.
This time the special liquid landed, splashing into the grass and dragon type's side and going up its long neck as Exeggutor raised its heads again. All of this happened right before Dragalge slammed into the ground and rolled over it as his second Venoshock ended.
That was it for Exeggutor. It had already taken three super effective attacks and three rounds of poisoning, along with one hit being a critical one, so it was already on the brink of passing out. Another super effective attack with a damage increase if the Pokémon was poisoned was far too much for Exeggutor to handle and just as it got its head to full height it was knocked out.
As such its heads continued to travel as it pitched over to the side and with a groan began to tip over. There was a swishing sound through the air like a falling tree as Exeggutor fell, its heads going straight for where Gillian was standing causing her to yell in surprise and dive out of the way right before Exeggutor slammed into the ground hard enough to make the girls and judges jump and kick up a fair bit of dust in the process.
As this was happening, Dragalge was slowly getting up to his tail fin his body showing the hits he'd taken but he was still standing. The entire time he was looking over ready just in case but it was clearly over and that was shown as the dust settled to reveal that Exeggutor was on its side with swirls in all its eyes. The moment that was noted the three Xs went off on the judges' podiums and the battle came to an end.
"And with that exciting, and personally frightening, ending Dawn has won and by Battle Off with just over a minute left." Gillian said getting to her feet as the crowd cheered. "What a battle indeed and that's just a taste of what we expect in the final given who else has made it. That's right, it's time for the final as Dawn advances to her 21st straight final which is going to start momentarily."
"Dragalge return." Dawn said recalling her Pokémon and smiling at the Poke Ball in her hand. "Well done, you were amazing in your first Contest and set us up for the final which we will win. Take a good long break, next time you're out it will be to celebrate and enjoy Alola with no worries."
"Exeggutor, return." Iris said recalling her Pokémon a small smile on her face. "That was well done, I'm proud of you. Dawn's a skilled coordinator and really showed it there. Even with my own skills she beat us with a dragon type and looked great doing it. Take a rest, we've got a lot to learn and I can't wait to introduce everyone to her Dragalge properly once this is all over, that's a hero dragon type."
"After this Contest ends." Dawn called out as Iris put her Poke Ball away and looked up and across the stage to Dawn. "I'll keep Dragalge on me until we leave Alola so you can help me with him as I'm still getting used to caring for a dragon type and Dragalge is a little different as he's an aquatic Pokémon without a water type."
"Of course, I can't wait and we're all looking forward to it, you don't know how much dragon types that are also either steel or poison types mean to us for how they can stand up to evil." Iris said beaming. "Now win this Dawn, I'm going to go and cheer for you."
"I will." Dawn said smiling at her friend as Iris turned and walked off.
As she did she hurried past Jessie without a glance in her haste to get to the rest of the group and watch Dawn win the Iki Contest. Jessie for her part just ignored her. She'd been on this side since the start as she'd fully expected the Sinnoh twerpette to defeat the Unova one and had planned accordingly.
Naturally Jessie had been right and it was clear that Dawn hadn't lost a step in Contests so it would take her A-game to win this and she fully intended to bring it. It would add to her reputation to beat Dawn, and properly this time as James was who actually beat her in Sinnoh, and she had just the surprise for this twerpette that would give her that needed edge in the coming final.
"Alright now it's time for the final and what a final we have as it's the one we all wanted the moment we saw the field for this Contest." Gillian said as soon as Iris was gone and Jessie began to walk out. "This is an all Sinnoh final, a first in Alola and what a final it is!"
Gillian paused for a moment as the crowd cheered and Jessie walked towards the starting point while Dawn stood waiting for her. It was only a brief pause though; this was a final and Gillian was clearly a professional so she had to further the hype for the Contest.
"On one side we still have the Prodigy of Sinnoh who needs no introduction after that semifinal." Gillian continued sweeping her arm to gesture to Dawn before sweeping it back to gesture to the walking Jessilina. "On the other we have the top favorite in Alola this year going for her 3rd ribbon thus qualifying for the wildcard in record time but more than that folks, she's the last person to defeat Dawn before a final having done so in Sinnoh when they were both rookies. That's right folks, it's the Maiden of Sinnoh herself, Jessilina, and it's now time for the Maiden and the Prodigy to face off for the Iki Ribbon!"
The crowd roared at that and Jessie just smiled and waved to them while Dawn remained where she was. This was easily one of the biggest matches Alola had seen since it began to hold Contests and would be a massive boost for them here so Dawn wasn't going to disappoint in it. Also, she knew that she could lose to Jessilina so she needed to bring her all to this if she wanted to win against a woman who if not for a pair of tough, hard fought losses, could be a Top Coordinator already.
"Well, here we are again and in a final this time." Dawn said as Jessie came to a stop facing her. "Been a long time since we last faced off back in the Sinnoh Grand Festival."
"That it has but we've both had time off and shown we still have it when we returned though your time off was because you won a Grand Festival while mine was for personal reasons." Jessie said keeping her Jessilina persona. "Plus I came back last year so I'm all warmed up, this time I won't lose to you. Top Coordinator or not, I know that I can beat you."
"As do I which is why I'm going to bring my best for you." Dawn said as she pulled out a Poke Ball and revealed that she had a ball seal on it which she hadn't had for her other Poke Balls as she'd been saving this Pokémon for the final. "And it's only fitting in this Sinnoh on Sinnoh final."
"That it is." Jessie said as she withdrew her own Poke Ball though Dawn noted that it wasn't actually a Poke Ball but a type of ball that she'd not seen before as it was pitch black with a gold center band and butte and a red band around the middle of the top part that was also banded in gold. "And while I didn't use a seal for this, I don't with this specific ball, I think you'll appreciate the Pokémon I had to use a Luxury Ball to catch."
"Then bring it." Dawn said now knowing what the new Poke Ball variant was though it was one she'd never heard of before. "I can't wait."
"Neither can I." Jessie said.
"Neither can any of us!" Gillian announced her excitement higher than it had been all day. "So on that, battle begin!"
"Piplup, spotlight!" Dawn said tossing out her Poke Ball which burst open with a blast of water around it and Piplup appeared spinning though it to land before her tall and proud immensely as the water dripped off him showing off his well-kept plumage and pleased at finally being used again to bring glory to Dawn. It was time to remind everyone why he was her best.
"Mimikyu, come on out and win!" Jessie said at the same time as the timer began and her Luxury Ball burst open. "Let's see if you can handle this Pokémon."
Dawn was again taken aback by what appeared before her only for an entirely different reason to before. This time the Pokémon was small, about the same height as Piplup based on what she was seeing, with an incredibly creepy look as it faced off against Piplup. In fact, Dawn was sure this wasn't it's true appearance, and likely not its true height either, as it was clearly wearing a sheet or rag of sorts that was fashioned to look like a Pikachu but didn't as it was an off yellow and the drawn face was off so there were no real eyes or mouth to it.
Overall it was strange and Dawn shivered a little at seeing it and she had a Spiritomb so she was used to Pokémon that were a bit on the spooky side. She'd have to look it up later but for now she had a battle to win and the appearance alone told her one thing that would be important in this battle.
"It's got to be at least part ghost type which isn't an issue for us." Dawn said though her gut told her that it might have a secondary type like electric or dark based on its appearance but she couldn't be certain. "Start out with Drill Peck!"
"Not bad but knowing its type alone won't be enough especially as you're not using a ghost or dark type, or both which I know you have." Jessie said as the battle began in earnest with Piplup launching himself at Mimikyu his beak glowing with flying type power and growing. "Mimikyu, defend against that with Shadow Claw."
Black, ghostly, arm-like things came out from under the sheet on either side of Mimikyu and the hand-like ends glowed with ghost type powers as they moved waiting for Piplup who was now spinning in the air as he approached the other Pokémon. He had no idea what he was fighting other than that it was a fake Pikachu, there were a fair few wannabe Pikachus out there it seemed, and that he was going to defeat it and show all why he was Dawn's top Pokémon.
That, unfortunately, started off bad as Mimikyu leapt up at the last moment and slashed down onto the back of Piplup's head driving him face first into the stage with a wail of pain from the blow. Thankfully he wasn't weak to it though neither was he resistant to the attack, but it was still a solid hit and Dawn lost points for it. However, he wasn't her ace, in his mind, for nothing and this little scratch wasn't going to take him down and Dawn knew it as Jessie followed up the attack.
"Play Rough." Jessie said.
"Leap back and counter with Bubble Beam." Dawn said. "Then use Ice Beam. You got this Piplup, I know it."
"Piplup!" Piplup cried in agreement as he pushed off the ground and threw himself backwards with his flippers, using all his strength to get into the air as Mimikyu made some guttural sound and leapt at where he was.
Thanks to Piplup's actions Mimikyu missed and roughly played on the spot that Piplup had been as Piplup got into the air and opened his beak. Before Mimikyu was done with its move the bubbles shot out and into Mimikyu bouncing it off the ground and into the air with another guttural sound only this time it was tinged with pain as Piplup fell back to land on his feet.
This time it was Mimikyu who was neither weak nor resistant to the attack and Jessie who lost points dropping below Dawn because of the miss in addition to the hit that Mimikyu took. However, Jessie knew that Mimikyu had an attack that would really shift the balance in this battle and give her an edge. She was already giving the command as Piplup's mouth opened and the Ice Beam formed there.
"Dodge and use Wood Hammer." Jessie said. "Use your arms to manage it just like we practiced."
Mimikyu let out a sound again and the two arms shot out as Piplup blasted the ice out. Unfortunately for Piplup the hands were faster and slammed into the ground to push Mimikyu off it and into the air where it could float and at Piplup as the Ice Beam shot out so that it flew between the arm things and missed. As the attacked soared under it, Mimikyu swung the arms around and brought them down only now they glowing with grass type power.
This time around Piplup wasn't able to evade it as the super effective grass type attack slammed into the top of his head and drove him into the stage and off it into the air with a wail of pain from the blow. It was bad and Dawn lost a good chunk of points but as Mimikyu was floating down to the stage she already had her next move lined up.
"Whirlpool!" Dawn shouted while Piplup was in the air.
"Dodge and use Shadow Ball." Jessie countered as Piplup opened his mouth going for range for a moment until that Whirlpool was over and Mimikyu could get in close again. "Don't get caught in it."
Mimikyu let out a guttural sound but before it could land on the stage the swirling vortex of water was shot out of Piplup's beak as he righted himself in the air and landed on the stage before he did. Thanks to the angle of Mimikyu's descent, as well as the fact that it was floating down, it didn't have time to evade it before the Whirlpool was on it and immediately sweeping Mimikyu up and trapping it in the move.
The Disguise Pokémon let out a cry of annoyance at that as the multi turn move trapped it in the swirling waters but it had an order and as it spun, Mimikyu focused and blasted out a Shadow Ball while passing Piplup with the speed at which Mimikyu was going making the attack shoot out faster than normal. Piplup didn't notice the attack until it was too late and the ball slammed into his face bouncing him back off the stage again but he flipped and landed on his feet, sliding back and growling at that as Mimikyu continued to be whipped around in the Whirlpool.
Jessie couldn't see that but she heard the points tick down from Dawn's bar, and then her own as Whirlpool cost points over time due to the nature of the move inflicting damage while trapped in it similar to Bind or Fire Spin, and an idea struck her. It was time to use this to her advantage as she had a good idea what Mimikyu had done, her Pokémon was smart after all and she fully trusted Mimikyu despite only catching it a month prior.
"Again!" Jessie shouted so that she could be heard over the water that had Mimikyu trapped. "Use Shadow Ball!"
"Play attention and dodge it this time Piplup." Dawn said as an idea of her own hit her mind for what to do about the situation that could be a big benefit to her though it would end the Whirlpool early. "And then freeze the Whirlpool with Ice Beam as soon as you've dodged it."
"Piplup." Piplup said with a nod understanding the seriousness of the order and setting himself.
This was going to take great skill, skill that he knew he had, to pull off but he was ready for it as he looked at the swirling vortex of water with the flash of light brown or off yellow, he couldn't tell which, in it. It took a few seconds but finally the blast came, a ball of ghost type power that was faster than he'd expected as the Whirlpool speed it up, that explained the earlier hit to Piplup, but he'd been expecting it this time so with a cry he leapt up into the air before it reached him so that it slammed into the stage below him as he opened his beak and formed the Ice Beam in it.
Then, before either coordinator could say anything more, he blasted it out and at the water while he was still in the air. The ice type attack hit the water and from the point it hit it froze the Whirlpool attack until a vortex of ice resting on its point was there. It wasn't a hit per se so Dawn lost a few points for a registered miss but it did freeze Mimikyu there and as the ice began to tip Dawn gave her next order and showed the reason why she'd frozen it in the first place.
"Drill Peck!" Dawn said. "Smash that ice and Mimikyu in the process."
"Piplup!" Piplup cried as he landed on the ground and instantly pushed off it the moment he did and at the frozen ghost type, no one had realized that Mimikyu had added a fairy type just yet as Jessie hadn't used it against Iris which would be the first contact point in the future. "Pip, Piplup!"
"Brace Mimikyu." Jessie said as Piplup's beak glowed with flying type power and began to elongate. "And then as soon as you can use Wood Hammer."
"Bubble Beam once it's out." Dawn countered as Piplup began to spin. "Don't let that Wood Hammer hit, keep the pressure up. You've got this!"
Even with the ice tipping there was no way for Piplup to miss or be intercepted this time so he easily reached the fake Pikachu that he was facing and slammed into it with enough force to blast it out of the ice with a cry as he continued to spin with it on the end of his beak. As he did the ice around the place where Mimikyu had been cracked and then shattered before it hit the stage with the chucks breaking up even more as they did.
Piplup didn't care for this as his Drill Peck ended and he used his flippers to push Mimikyu away and down just as the arm things appeared from under its cloth ready to strike. As they did he opened his beak and blasted out his Bubble Beam as fast as he could but as the bubbles flew out the arms glowed with grass type power and shot up and at him.
The result was both moves landing at the same time with the bubbles slamming into the head part of Mimikyu's outfit and blasting it down and into the stage with a crash that didn't kick up any dust due to Mimikyu's light weight while the arms arched up and drove into Piplup's chest sending him arching backwards with a wail from the super effective attack. For his part Piplup arched through the air and landed a few feet in front of Dawn on his back with a crash of his own, battered and badly hurt but panting and still in it which really showed his grit. He wasn't the only one as Mimikyu was also still in it.
With groans, both small Pokémon slowly got to their feet, or whatever the base of Mimikyu was as Dawn really had no idea what the Pokémon actually looked like, and faced off. Piplup was panting and his feathers showed his damage while Mimikyu made some unidentifiable sound from within its dirty cloth and the former at least glared at the latter though it was hard to tell from the latter if it was glaring at Piplup in turn.
Still, both were in it and while Mimikyu was hurt it hadn't taken any super effective attacks like Piplup had so it was clear who might pass out first if either Pokémon was able to land any more hits. That was why Dawn had prevent that and she was going to go for range to ensure that while Jessie had the same idea knowing that she was a hit away from a Battle Off win after two Wood Hammers.
"Ice Beam!"
"Shadow Ball!"
The orders came out at the same time and both Pokémon acted accordingly. Mimikyu was faster on the draw blasting out the ball of ghost type power out from under its rag as the ice formed in Piplup's beak but it hadn't traveled half the distance to him before he got his Ice Beam off.
As such the attacks slammed into each other and blew up though it was closer to Piplup than it was to Mimikyu and he had to cover his eyes with his flippers as the smoke of the explosion washed over him. Still, it was a draw and both coordinators had the same idea shouting the same word at the same time even as the smoke filled the stage from the canceled attacks.
"Again!"
Piplup and Mimikyu understood and began to prepare but before the attacks could be launched the buzzer suddenly went off causing both Pokémon to abort the attacks, Piplup from extensive experience and training to do so when he heard the buzzer and Mimikyu from surprise as Jessie had yet to explain this part to her Pokémon. Regardless it had happened and the battle was over so as the smoke cleared the women looked to the jumbotron that was above and behind the judges panel holding their breaths as they looked at the scores and waited for the announcement.
"And there it is, the time is up and we have a winner, it's…" Gillian began before pausing to check herself, and for effect, as everyone in the stadium but the judges looked to the board as well and noted that while both women had lost two full bars, one was just above half and one just below half on the third bar showing a clear victor. "…Dawn!"
At that the crowd roared and Dawn breathed out a sigh of relief at the announcement. That had been an intense battle, Jessilina was as good as ever if not better than the last time they'd battled, but Dawn had won and with that she'd completed her second region on the way to the Majestic Festival, this time at the first attempt.
"Piplup, return." Dawn said recalling her starter, he was only in his Poke Ball for Contests but he'd taken a lot of damage and needed a rest until he could get healed up at the Pokémon Center. "You were amazing as always Piplup, really showed why you're my best in winning against a truly talented coordinator while facing a Pokémon that neither of us had ever seen before. You took two tough hits and returned the favor in kind. Take a good long rest, you've earned it and the poffins and pampering that are coming later, all of you have. We'll celebrate tonight but for now it's time to end this properly."
"Mimikyu return." Jessie said at the same time that Dawn recalled Piplup, a slight smile on her face despite her annoyance. "That was well done, we were up against a Top Coordinator and her starter who's been doing this for years while this is only your second Contest and first battle. I'm so proud of you. Take a rest, next Contest we'll win and then, after we win the Alola Grand Festival, we'll get her back at the Majestic Festival."
At that Jessie put Mimikyu's Luxury Ball away as Dawn did the same with Piplup's Poke Ball and they walked out at the same time. This was how it should end and even with the loss Jessie didn't mind because it was to someone who was respected on the circuit. Plus it was a close and hard fought battle so it would look great for her despite being a loss and the bounce back would be even better. Plus she had a persona to live up to, one that was becoming more and more normal for her as the days went on.
"Well done tw…Dawn." Jessie said as she reached the center and held out her hand to Dawn and as this was Alola and they weren't dressed up there were no gloves in the way. "You showed me that you're still as good as I remember."
"Thank you and I'd say you're better; you've really improved thanks to your time in Kalos as that really could have gone either way." Dawn said taking Jessie's hand and shaking it. "Just the kind of challenge I need to keep me sharp. I don't doubt that you're the favorite here and wish you all the best on the Alola Contest circuit."
"Thank you." Jessie said still holding Dawn's hand as she looked deep into Dawn's eyes smiling as she did. "And don't you dare fail to make the Majestic Festival this year. I'm winning it all in Alola and becoming a Top Coordinator like you so going to be there via that route. I want a rematch with you there."
"I won't." Dawn said smiling. "And I'll hold you to that, if you win it all in Alola that is."
"I intend to but for now this is your moment so enjoy it." Jessie said letting go of Dawn's hand. "I'll see you in Hoenn at the end of the year."
With that Dawn and Jessie moment ended and Jessie turned and walked off before Dawn could reply leaving her alone in the center of the stage as an image of her and her Pokémon appeared on the jumbotron under a banner saying WINNER. Dawn didn't pay attention to that, she was focused on watching Jessilina leave and only when the older woman was gone did Dawn turn to the judges and wait as Mr. Contesta got up and brough a significantly larger than normal box over to her, holding it in his hands.
"Dawn, it is my honor to congratulate you on winning the Iki Town Contest." Mr. Contesta said as he reached her and opened the case so that Dawn could get a good look at what was inside. "In keeping with Alola Contest rules, you are allowed to select one of these 18 type Z-Crystals as your reward for winning in addition to your ribbon. Choose wisely."
Dawn did as she looked over the Z-Crystals laid out in the case. Over the last few days she'd come to recognize them thanks to the others and some additional information from Kukui about the uniquely Alolan crystal so she knew their names, the uniform shape they all had, colors, and markings so she could identify which type the generic ones were for though she didn't know about the specific ones. That was why she knew which one she was going for and without hesitation she reached in and picked up a blue crystal with a water drop pattern on it.
"I'll take a Waterium Z, thank you." Dawn said claiming her first Z-Crystal and the one for her starter, it was the most fitting one as Piplup was a water type and had just won the Alolan Ribbon she needed so she'd have taken no other for that honor. "Piplup earned this ribbon for me, this is a reward for him once I get a Z-Ring and complete an island challenge when I have the time to do."
"Very well and now your ribbon." Mr. Contesta said as he closed the case to reveal that it had an additional part at the top that he opened and revealed that the ribbon was inside.
Dawn had seen the Alolan ribbon style a couple of times over the last few days as the others had shown her theirs but it was still interesting to see. They were a totally new design to what she'd seen before being a golden circle with the crest of the location, town, or sponsor engraved in it. Around it was a bright yellow fabric pattern in a fold pattern with two matching streamers down from the bottom of the ribbon right next to each other so that they slightly split and were longer than what she'd seen on other ribbons that she'd won though they were at least familiar to Dawn.
The style was called a rosette apparently and was either a bright yellow or a pale white alternating between Contests based on where they were held and time of day as Alola held Contests at night as well as during the day with the major change being the crest engraving. It was certainly unique and Dawn really liked how they'd gone for something different here in Alola than they did in other regions as she reached in and picked it up the way she'd hold any other ribbon.
As soon as she did, Mr. Contesta stepped back so that Dawn could have her moment and as he did she turned to the crowd and thrust her arm into the air holding the ribbon aloft the way she always did. It was tradition at this point and she wasn't going to back down from doing it at this point.
"I won the Iki Ribbon!" Dawn proclaimed and as she did the crowd roared and fireworks went off to signal the end of the Contest.
She smiled for a moment as she held the pose for the crowd before bringing her hand down and holding her first and only Alolan Ribbon in her hand enjoying the moment as the crowd continued to cheer. They'd all celebrate properly later but for now it was just her and Dawn was going to enjoy it as she held the ribbon and looked at it.
Dawn had gotten her second regional ribbon on the path to the Majestic Festival and on her first go this time. Things were looking up and now they had time to enjoy Alola for a bit and see what happened to them while they were here.
As Dawn cradled her ribbon in her hands basking in the fact that she was one step closer to the Majestic Festival she, and no one else for that matter, noticed the small, quadrupedal Pokémon that was in the area under the stands looking through a hole in the wall and staring at her with wide, amazed eyes.
The Pokémon had found who could teach her how to do this wonderful battle style, the others she'd seen as she'd traveled over the island hadn't compared but this girl was truly special, she knew it. It was time to follow her and make her take her and train her in this beautiful pageantry and battles, providing she earned the right, so as the blue haired human enjoyed her moment the Pokémon watching got ready for her own as the Iki Town Contest came to an end.
I think that's a good place to end with a little tease and cliffhanger after Dawn's first Alola Contest and first victory making Alola her first 1 for 1 region on her path to the Majestic Festival. There really isn't much to go over about this Part, it's a nice, straightforward Contest one with plenty of action and appeal culminating in a strong win for Dawn, the only thing to really note is that in case you missed it before, Mimikyu has not been confirmed to have added a fairy type after the change. This is due to its appearance, limited use, and general perception and makes it the only remaining non mythical or legendary Pokémon at this point in the story that hasn't been confirmed to have changed but as Jessie has one and is a rival to Iris that will change before the end of Champions. Anyway, there is still plenty more to cover in the Alola arc though as we build up to the culmination of it so stay tuned for all that is still to come. That is all that I have for this Part so I'll leave it off here. As always if you like my work then please favorite (both this story and me in general to be notified of any new content I post), if possible leave a review as I really like hearing what you think of my work and your suggestions that help complete this story (and respond as best I can) and just in general keep enjoying my work. Until next time.
Stringdog