OK, so once again this chapter is almost completely reliant on my awful memory. I don't remember much about how contests work, and I have to write 2 or 3 entries for this one. So, wish me luck on that. In other words, these might end up being terrible. But at least there're battles and not performances, so it shouldn't be too bad. Also, I'm currently undergoing a bout of insomnia, so that's also a factor to take in. Anyway, I'll shut up now and let you read this one.
Chapter 32:
Bonnie seems quite down to Max after her confrontation with Trixie. When the group stops for the night, she seems less enthusiastic about her training than usual. At first, he assumes that she's just upset at her loss against Trixie. But as the evening progresses, her dour mood continues. So, as they're getting ready for bed, he decides to speak with her about it. "Hey," he says as she walks past him, "are you OK?" Bonnie stops walking and turns to him, smiling. Perhaps it's just the dim light of the moon and stars, but her smile doesn't quite meet her eyes, almost like she's plastered it on. "I'm fine Max," she says. "I'm just a bit annoyed that I lost so badly to Trixie, that's all." Max isn't convinced. "Are you sure," he asks. "Because your training didn't look as energetic and dedicated as usual." Bonnie shrugs, clearly not wanting to have this conversation. "Perhaps I'm just tired," she replies evasively. "But really Max, I'm fine. I promise." She puts her hand on his shoulder at this. Despite the fact that he still feels sceptical, he decides to let the matter drop for now. He nods his head, then turns away. As he does, he thinks he hears Bonnie sigh with relief.
At last, Fallarbor is in sight. Taking a look at the town, Max can't help but feel nervous about his first time entering a contest. He supposes that this was how May felt when she entered the Slateport Contest. A small pang of guilt courses through his chest at this, although he has no idea why. It was Team Terra's fault that happened, not his. But a small part of his mind tells him, "But they wouldn't have attacked the city in the first place I you weren't there, or if you'd given them your notebooks." "Shut up" he says under his breath. He joins the others as they head into the town, eager to get to the Contest Hall in time to register for the contest. As they walk through the town, Max feels his cares melt away and be replaced with excitement as he and the other 3 run to the Contest Hall. Max presents his Contest Pass the the receptionist, who informs him that he was just in time, as registration is about to close. Relieved that he made it in time, Max leads the way out of the building. As the four of them wait around outside for the contest to start, they hear a voice cry out, "Clemont, Korrina! Never thought we'd see you two here!"
The group turns around and sees Tierno and Shauna running up to them, with Shauna waving as they do. Clemont and Korrina beam. "Hey Tierno, hey Shauna!" Korrina calls. "What are you doing here?" "I'm here to compete in the Contest here," Tierno explains. "Shauna's here to support me." "What about you?" Shauna asks. "I'm competing in the Contest too," Max explains. "They're all here to support me." Clemont and Korrina nod. "Though of course we'll support you too," Clemont adds. "Unless you and Max end up facing off against each other." Tierno waves that off. "Completely understandable," he says. "If it's his first time, he's gonna want the support." Max smirks cockily at that. "Don't be so sure," he says. "Depending on whether or not a certain someone has registered, I have a killer strategy in mind." Bonnie looks at him with confusion. "Who are you talking about?" she asks. "I think he's talking about me!" comes another voice from behind them. Everyone looks in the direction the voice came from to find a young boy around Max and Bonnie's age. Max smiles when he sees him. "Kenny!" he exclaims, running over and high-fiving the boy. "So, you're here too?" Kenny nods. "And I would've been at Slateport too, but I got sidetracked on the way." "It's lucky you weren't there then," says Shauna. "What with the Tremor attacking the city."
There it is again, that weird twinge of guilt. Max pushes it aside and focuses on the present. "Well then," he says confidently. "It seems we're at an impass. So, why don't we let our coordinating do the talking!" The other two agree with him, then they all head into the Contest Hall. When they do, the three Coordinators separate from the others and head to the waiting rooms, while the rest of them head to the seating area. As he waits, Max looks around the room at his competition. To his surprise (and a tiny bit if relief), he notices that Drew is absent. He recalls the conversation he and Bonnie had with May before they ran into Ammon a few weeks ago, about Drew kissing her then running away. But surely May has talked to him by now, right? So, why is he absent. He decides to worry about that later, and focus on the fact that he can now use the strategy he developed with Drew back in Slateport. Just as he comes to this decision, the Contest starts, and Coordinators are called up onto the stage, one by one for the appeals round.
Max listens out as his fellow Coordinators show off their pokémon and all of their moves. He can't see what they're doing, but for the crowd seems to be loving them all. As his time draws near, he's struck with an idea on how to make his appeals round go even better. He takes his bag off of his back and rummages through it, before finding what he needs. Smiling to himself, he pockets the items, then continues waiting. Eventually, it's Kenny's turn, who will be followed by Tierno, and then him. He sits there and listens as the crowd goes wild for whatever it is that Kenny did, and have a similar reaction for Tierno. Then at last, it's his turn. Mac quickly explains the change of plan to Gallade, who understands what he needs doing. Then, the pair head up on stage.
When Max's name is called, he can hear people whispering excitedly, obviously noting the fact thst he has the same surname as the current Top Coordinator of Hoenn. He pays them all no mind and focuses on Gallade. He fingers his key stone, contemplating using it. But then he remembers Drew's advice on saving it for the battle round, in order to take everyone by surprise and earn some style points. So, he lets the key stone go, and begins his routine. He orders Gallade to start spinning around like a top on his toes, then use Psycho Cut for extra effect. Then, he orders for Fairy Wind to go in as well, creating a small tornado of colours and slices. Then, Max adds his new detail. He pulls all of his spare pencils out of his pocket, then starts throwing them in the air one by one. Gallade successfully manages to slice through every single one of them, much to the audience's delight. Once the last pencil is cut in half, the pair finish their act. Everyone applauds them, even the judges.
Once the appeals round is done, it's revealed that Max, Kenny and Tierno all made it to the battle round, amongst a few others. Max's first battle is against some random person that he doesn't even remember the name of. He gets beaten so easily that Max doesn't have to Mega Evolve Gallade. Kenny and Tierno's matches also go well, until Tierno is knocked out in the quarter final. Max manages to beat the opponent who defeated Tierno, and Kenny also succeeds in getting to the final round. Now, the two of them face off against each other. Because it's the final round, Max decides he should finally use his trump card. So, he touches the keystone, and cries "Gallade, Mega Evolve!" This has the audience on the edge if their seats, and Kenny looks impressed. "Not bad Max," he says. "While I can't do that yet, me and Marshtomp will still defeat you!" Then,said Marshtomp appears in front of him.
Their battle begins with Marshtomp trying to hit Gallade with Water Gun, but Gallade teleports out of the way. Marshtomp then tries to use Mud Shot, but Gallade avoids that as well. "You aren't going to get many style points if you keep using Teleport!" Kenny calls. Max just smirks. "That's why I'm not doing that," Max replies. "Gallade now!" Gallade suddenly appears behind Marshtomp and nails him with a Psycho upper Cut. Marshtomp is thrown into the air and hits the ground hard. It manages to get up and strike Gallade with another Mud Shot. But Gallade brushes the attack off and teleports around a few times. Then, he launches some Psychic attacks at Marshtomp as well. Marshtomp blasts Water Pulse all around it, managing to strike Gallade and stop the teleporting, but Gallade simply uses Psycho Cut again in the style of High Jump Kick, winning the battle.
The crowd goes wild at this, and the judged applaud him politely. In the stands, Max can see Clemont, Korrina, Tierno and Shauna clapping for him, while Bonnie practically jumps up and down on her seat. Then, the first judge steps forward. "Well, with an incredible battle like that," he says, "it's clear who the winner is. Max Maple from Petalburg City!" The crowd cheer as he's handed his first ribbon. Max can't quite believe this. The crowd is cheering for him. Suddenly, he understands why May took to Contests like this. If he didn't have such a passion for observing and documenting pokémon, he could easily see himself making this his full-time career in the future. Kenny snaps him out of his thoughts by patting him on the back for a job well done. Max turns to him, then shakes his hand and thanks him for the first contest together. The crowd claps at the show of good sportsmanship, then the two boys exit the stage.
As usual, I completely ran out of steam towards the end there. This chapter was supposed to go on, and include a small celebration for Max, as well as Clemont and Korrina leaving their little group. But I've completely run out of energy. I've only had 4 hours of sleep due to ADHD induced insomnia (yes, that is real), so this chapter was a struggle. Hopefully I'll be in a better state to write on Thursday. See you then.