One by one, Coordinators took their turns.
A girl with a Plusle opened the show, the Pokémon clapping its paws together as sparks popped into the air like fireworks. The electricity crackled harmlessly, forming glowing shapes before fading as the crowd applauded.
Next came a boy with a Beautifly. It fluttered gracefully above the stage, scattering shimmering [Silver Wind] that caught the lights just right, creating a soft rainbow haze. Vivian praised the smooth execution as the judges nodded politely.
Another contestant sent out a Delcatty, which spun and leapt across the stage, using [Attract] and [Double Slap] in a playful routine that earned laughs and light cheers from the audience.
One after another, the contestants went one by one, showing off whatever choreography they had practiced for weeks beforehand. Some performances were better than others. Before long, Vivian's voice lifted slightly.
"Next up, Drew, from LaRousse City!"
From backstage, Drew stepped onto the platform, posture straight, expression calm and confident. He adjusted his gloves once before tossing the Poké Ball into the air.
"Go, Roselia,"
The Poké Ball burst open in a flash of light, and Roselia emerged gracefully, landing on one foot like a dancer hitting her mark. The crowd murmured in appreciation immediately.
Drew didn't waste a second.
"[Petal Dance],"
Roselia spun, petals bursting outward in a controlled spiral. Instead of chaos, the petals formed a smooth, flowing vortex around her, drifting gently rather than wildly. The lights reflected off the petals, turning them into a soft pink-and-green storm.
Drew raised one hand slightly, "Now, [Magical Leaf],"
Glowing leaves wove themselves through the petal storm, spiraling in precise patterns, dancing through the petals as if they were choreographed together.
Roselia leapt, flipping gracefully as the petals and leaves followed her movement, then landed cleanly at center stage. The effects faded all at once, leaving her standing proudly, flowers raised.
Raoul Contesta smiled knowingly. Mr. Sukizo clapped enthusiastically, and even Nurse Joy nodded with clear approval.
As they set their scores, 9.8, 9.9, and 9.7 respectively, for a total of 29.4, Vivian beamed.
"What a beautiful performance! Exceptional control and coordination!"
Back in the contestant area, Drew allowed himself a small, satisfied smile as Roselia returned to her Poké Ball.
And somewhere backstage, May watched the screen, heart pounding.
A few more Coordinators took the stage one after another, until finally only one performer remained before May's turn.
The man who walked out was announced as Robert. He had blond hair and a handsome face, which made the crowd cheer immediately. Somewhere in that excitement, Brock muttered under his breath about how life clearly had favorites.
Robert stepped into the spotlight like he owned it.
He moved with practiced ease, one hand lifting in a casual wave as the cheers swelled even louder. Blond hair, a confident, but not cocky, smile. He waved at the crowd.
"Thank you," he said, "Let's make this memorable,"
He flicked the Poké Ball forward, "Milotic, gracefully,"
The ball opened in a bloom of light, and Milotic emerged, already charging a [Safeguard] that made her shine the moment she left the ball. Gasps rippled through the audience.
Vivian's voice softened in awe, "Oh my… a Milotic,"
Robert lifted two fingers, "Begin with [Aqua Ring],"
A ribbon of water spiraled around Milotic's body, hovering rather than splashing. The ring shimmered, refracting the stage lights and the [Safeguard] into flowing prisms that danced across the walls and ceiling.
Then Robert snapped his fingers once, "Now, [Attract],"
Milotic tilted her head slightly, fins flaring just enough. A pulse of soft pink light spread outward as the ring of water reformed into a flowing heart, which then burst into dozens of small, heart-shaped bubbles.
The crowd went quiet for a split second, then erupted.
Raoul Contesta leaned forward, eyes sharp. Mr. Sukizo was practically vibrating. Nurse Joy clasped her hands together with a smile.
The scores flashed one by one.
9.6
10.0
9.9
A total of 29.5.
Vivian gasped, "An astonishing performance! Absolute elegance and restraint, truly top-class!"
Robert inclined his head modestly as Milotic returned to her Poké Ball, the cheers following him all the way offstage.
Backstage, May felt her stomach drop.
That wasn't just good.
That was the kind of performance people remembered.
Lisia, watching nearby with her arms folded, hummed thoughtfully, "Oooh… now that is pressure," But Lisia grinned anyway, "Showtime, May,"
May gulped one more time and smoothed her dress, as if trying to flatten imaginary wrinkles, "Okay… let's do this,"
Vivian's voice echoed through the hall, "Next up, May, from Petalburg City!"
The lights dimmed for just a heartbeat.
Backstage, May felt everything go quiet inside her head as she stepped forward.
The moment May emerged onto the stage, the soft pink and white of her contest costume caught the lights immediately, shimmering gently as she walked to center stage. She stopped, took her mark, and clasped her hands in front of her, just like Lisia had shown her.
Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure the microphones could pick it up.
She took a breath and looked at the Poké Ball in her hand. Then she glanced to the side, where Lisia was giving her a double thumbs-up of encouragement. Finally, she looked out at the crowd, feeling her heartbeat thunder in her chest.
Her gaze swept across the stands, then stopped.
Max. Brock. Ash.
They were there, clapping for her.
That sight alone was enough to steady her breathing. May nodded to herself.
"Okay! Let's show them what we've got!"
She lifted her Poké Ball with both hands and threw it into the air, letting it open.
Beautifly burst from the Poké Ball in a flash of light, wings spreading wide as she caught herself midair. The delicate patterning on her wings shimmered under the stage lights, the colors richer and more vibrant than usual, and the judges noticed.
A ripple of polite applause passed through the crowd.
May lifted her head, nerves still buzzing, but her voice came out steadier than she expected, "Beautifly… let's go!"
Beautifly fluttered upward, hovering gracefully above the stage.
"Start with [Silver Wind]!"
A soft, glittering breeze spiraled outward from Beautifly's wings, scattering silver particles that sparkled like stardust. The wind curved gently instead of blasting forward, wrapping around the stage in a slow, elegant arc. The lights caught it just right, casting shimmering reflections across the floor and backdrop.
The audience murmured appreciatively.
May felt a small spark of confidence flicker in her chest.
"Now, [Gust]!"
Beautifly beat her wings, sending bursts of wind through the drifting Silver Wind. The particles danced higher, twisting into looping ribbons that rose and fell in time with Beautifly's movements, like an aerial ballet.
Vivian smiled. Raoul Contesta nodded thoughtfully.
May took another breath as she thought to herself, I'm doing it. I'm really doing it.
"Beautifly, spin!"
Beautifly twirled midair, wings flashing as wind currents followed her motion, shaping the silver haze into soft spirals and blooming arcs. She dipped low, then swept back up, trailing light behind her like a comet's tail.
The applause grew a little louder now.
But as May glanced toward the judges, her heart dipped.
They looked impressed, but not amazed.
Raoul's expression was calm. Sukizo clapped politely. Nurse Joy smiled warmly.
And she knew why. Beautifly had already been out here today. Twice. Beautifly was a pretty common Pokémon in Contests, since it was a Bug-type most trainers could get within a month. It didn't take a lot of care. Sure, hers was definitely more beautiful, Ash had jam-packed high-quality Blue Pokéblocks into her diet, but that only did so much.
May gulped as Beautifly curled through the air. She scrambled for ideas, anything, then remembered the conversation she'd had with Ash after Max and Brock left.
—
{Flashback 1 hour ago}
As Ash closed the door, he looked at May.
"So… nervous?" he asked quietly.
May laughed weakly, twisting her fingers together, "Is it that obvious?"
Ash shrugged, hands in his pockets, "Kinda. But… that's not a bad thing,"
May blinked, "It's not?"
"Nah," Ash said, "Every time I get nervous, it means I care. And when I care…" He smiled a little, "That's usually when my Pokémon and I do our best,"
May hesitated, "But what if I mess up? What if everyone else is just… better?"
Ash chuckled as he went and sat on the couch, "Then don't try to be everyone else,"
She looked at him.
"Contests aren't battles," he continued, "You're not trying to overpower anyone. You're just showing who you are, together with your Pokémon. So—" He tapped her head lightly, "What do you and Beautifly do that nobody else does?"
May opened her mouth… then stopped, "I, um, well… we have you guys," May said. It wasn't really the best answer in this situation, but it was the one she had right now. She did owe most of everything to Ash, he saved her, got her here, and trained her.
Ash smiled, "You know that's not what I mean, but I'll take it as a compliment,"
"Yeah…" May muttered awkwardly.
"It's fine. But if you want help, all you need to do is ask," Ash said with a smile.
May blinked and looked at him, "Help? How? You know Contests aren't the same as Pokémon battles,"
Ash shrugged, "Maybe. But I can help you. I can give you a way to win, something no one else can do," He paused, "But I warn you, it won't be 'cute.'" Ash warned her, though his smile never faded.
May gulped, "What do you mean by that…?" she asked, though she didn't reject it.
Ash smiled wider, "Well, how about you get Beautifly out? Pikachu, Vee, you two down for some tutoring?" he said with a smirk.
Pikachu and Vee both smiled, looking at each other as they shared a cheeky grin.
May didn't know if she should be grateful or scared, but she couldn't stop a small smile from forming as she snorted softly, "Okay, fine. But if it's not good, I'm not using it," she said as she reached for Beautifly's Poké Ball.
—
May remembered that Ash helped her, he always did, even when he was acting like an idiot. She also remembered that he promised that if she won, he'd be right there, cheering the loudest for her. That thought sparked a hope inside her, burning brighter and brighter.
She opened her eyes, and there was a new shine in them.
"Beautifly," May called, her voice clearer, stronger, "Get ready!"
Beautifly hovered, sensing the shift immediately, her wings steadying as she turned to face May instead of the crowd.
May raised one hand, "[Silver Wind],"
A second wave of shimmering wind spilled outward, softer than before, silver particles drifting lazily through the air. A few murmurs rippled through the audience, some appreciative, some confused. Hadn't they just seen this?
And the reason they thought that was because, in Contests, if you used the same move twice in a row in the same way, it was considered boring, and you would be penalized for it.
Raoul Contesta tilted his head slightly.
May didn't hesitate.
"Now spin it with [Gust]!"
Beautifly snapped her wings hard.
The [Gust] slammed into the [Silver Wind], not scattering it this time, but forcing it inward. The drifting particles whipped around Beautifly in a tight circle, silver light compressing into a fast-moving ring.
The air hummed.
The crowd gasped.
"What—?" Vivian breathed.
May's heart raced. This was it, "Keep it tight! Let's show them, [Counter Shield]!"
Beautifly spun in place, wings beating in rapid, controlled bursts. The wind curved back on itself, wrapping around her body instead of flying outward. The Silver Wind thickened, brightened, forming a whirling, luminous shield of silver light around Beautifly.
The silver barrier stabilized, spinning faster and faster until it looked less like wind and more like a living halo wrapped around Beautifly's body. The particles no longer drifted, they locked into place, flowing in smooth streams that curved perfectly with her movements.
The audience leaned forward.
"Now!" May shouted, heart pounding.
Beautifly snapped her wings outward.
The shield detonated, not violently, but like a dandelion, as the sparkles flew out in a radiant bloom, spiraling outward in dozens of perfectly even arcs, cascading across the stage in slow motion.
Then Beautifly descended gracefully, landing on May's back as May took a bow. The sparkles fell around them, making it look like it was raining glitter.
For a moment, the hall was silent.
Then the crowd exploded.
Cheers thundered through the room, far louder than before. People were on their feet now, clapping, whistling, shouting her name.
Vivian snapped out of her awe just in time to raise her microphone, "Incredible! What a daring combination! That level of control—!"
May was still bowing, her chest heaving as she tried not to cry from everyone cheering for her. She finally, reluctantly, looked up.
The scores lit up.
9.8
9.9
9.8
Total: 29.5
A tie.
The hall slowly settled as the cheers tapered off, the excitement still buzzing in the air like static.
Vivian glanced toward the judges' table, lowering her mic slightly, "Well now… it appears we have ourselves a tie. Judges, would you like a moment to confer?"
Raoul Contesta leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. Mr. Sukizo scratched his chin thoughtfully, while Nurse Joy exchanged a look with both of them. The three huddled closer, murmuring quietly as the crowd waited, expectant.
Onstage, May stood stiffly, hands clasped in front of her, her heart threatening to leap right out of her chest. Beautifly hovered nearby, wings fluttering softly as if to reassure her.
The other contestants were still watching from their side of the stage. Drew could hardly believe what he had just seen, it reminded him of his first contest, but where he had lost, May had gone head-to-head against actual experienced Coordinators and delivered a stunning performance.
Robert, standing at the opposite side of the stage, glanced over at May. He studied her for a moment, curious. Then he raised one hand slightly.
"Excuse me," he said, his voice calm but carrying easily through the hall.
Vivian turned, "Yes, Robert?"
He smiled politely, "Before you decide… may I ask something?"
Raoul arched a brow, "Go ahead,"
Robert turned fully toward May, "This is your first contest, isn't it?"
Every eye in the room seemed to snap to her at once.
May blinked, startled, then nodded, "Y-Yes. It is,"
Robert's smile widened, genuine and warm. He chuckled softly, shaking his head, "Figures,"
May tilted her head, confused, "Huh?"
He faced the judges again, posture relaxed, hands slipping into his pockets, "In that case…" He paused just long enough for tension to build, "I'd like to forfeit the win to her,"
The hall went dead silent.
"…What?" Vivian blurted before she could stop herself.
May's eyes went wide, "W-Wait—what?!"
Robert shrugged lightly, as if this were the most natural decision in the world, "A first contest is special. I'd hate to ruin it because of a technicality. Besides, after a splendid performance like that from someone new, I'm afraid I might feel like I'm not trying hard enough," he said with a laugh.
Raoul Contesta studied Robert closely, "You're certain? You'd give up the chance to be the winner?"
Robert nodded without hesitation, "Absolutely,"
Mr. Sukizo broke into a broad grin, "Hoho! Now that is style!"
Nurse Joy smiled warmly, "What a gracious decision,"
Vivian turned back toward May, eyes shining, "May… do you accept?"
May looked like her brain had short-circuited. She opened her mouth, closed it, then looked down at Beautifly, who chirped softly and nudged her cheek.
She swallowed hard.
"I… I don't know what to say," May admitted, bowing deeply toward Robert, "Thank you. I promise, I won't waste this,"
Robert laughed gently, "I know you won't,"
Vivian lifted her microphone, her voice ringing with excitement, "Then it's settled! By Robert's own decision, May is the winner of the Slateport Contest and will be awarded the Slateport Ribbon!"
The crowd erupted into cheers as Raoul Contesta stood, took the ribbon, and walked over to May to present it to her.
May could only sigh in disbelief and thank Mew that Normal Rank Contests didn't have a battle section, because she might have gotten a power-up, but there was no way she could beat someone like Robert, or even Drew, for that matter, in a one-on-one.
"For creativity, courage, and a performance that pushed past expectation," he said warmly, "this Slateport Ribbon is yours,"
He pinned it carefully to May's costume.
For a moment, May just stood there, frozen.
Then it hit her.
She clutched the ribbon with trembling fingers, eyes shining as tears finally spilled over, "Th-Thank you," she managed, her voice cracking, "I'll… I'll do even better next time. I promise,"
The applause swelled again. Beautifly fluttered up and circled her, wings catching the light, before landing gently on her shoulder. May laughed breathlessly through her tears and hugged her Pokémon without thinking.
From the stands, Ash was already on his feet, hands cupped around his mouth.
"YEAH, MAY! THAT'S IT!"
Pikachu and Vee cheered right along with him, sparks popping harmlessly in excitement.
Max was practically vibrating, "She won! She actually won!"
Brock chuckled, adjusting his collar. He was happy May won, but mainly, he was even happier that Robert lost. He wasn't going to say that out loud.
On the contestants' side of the stage, Drew let out a slow breath. He looked at May again, really looked this time, and gave a small nod.
Robert clapped politely but sincerely, meeting May's eyes once more and giving her a thumbs-up. She bowed again, deeper this time.
Vivian raised her microphone as the noise finally began to settle, "What an unforgettable opening round! If this is how Slateport begins, I can't wait to see what comes next!"
As May left the stage, ribbon secured and legs still feeling like jelly, Lisia caught her in a quick hug backstage.
"Gratz!" Lisia said with a grin, "Showtime suits you,"
May laughed shakily, wiping her eyes, "I—I almost didn't believe it,"
"Well, of course you did it. Everyone I scout is obviously bound to be awesome. Looks like I did it again," Lisia said, scrunching her nose up, but she was only being playful. She wasn't actually taking credit for May's win.
Then Lisia smiled again and looked at May, "You've gotta keep up this pace and go as far as you can! Become a real Contest star! If you can have as much fun with Contest Spectaculars as I do, I'd be happy as a Slugma on a sunny day! You could become a massive star! I've got a good feeling about you, the next chapter in your story! I'm calling it… 'Is This a Dream? Am I a Future Contest Star?' Ahhhh, it's so marvelous! I'm sure you're on the path to Contest stardom! You'll be a star!"
"Thanks," May said, rubbing her arm and glancing at the dress, "Oh… should I give this back to the prop room, orrr—?"
Lisia waved her hand dismissively, "Keep it. Don't worry about it. Besides, it looks great on you!"
May smiled again, "Thanks again… for everything,"
"It's okay. Now I've gotta go do some more idol work, but remember, stay dazzling!" Lisia said with a wink as she ran off.
May chuckled as she looked at her new dress. First things first, she went to the changing room, changed back into her regular outfit, neatly folded the dress into her bag, and placed the ribbon into its case.
When she walked out and headed toward the lobby to find her friends, she passed several of the other contestants along the way, all stopping to congratulate her.
May walked slowly through the wide lobby, ribbon case tucked safely under her arm, still half-convinced she might wake up at any second. Everywhere she went, people smiled at her, other Coordinators offering congratulations, a few audience members shyly asking for photos. Each one made her cheeks warm a little more.
She was just starting to breathe again when footsteps caught up beside her.
"Hey,"
May turned, and blinked in surprise, "Oh! Robert!"
Robert fell into step beside her easily, hands in his pockets, expression relaxed now that the stage lights were behind them, "Figured I'd walk you out. It's… quieter outside,"
May smiled, nodding, "Yeah. That'd be nice,"
They walked together toward the exit, the noise of the hall fading with every step.
"You were incredible up there," Robert said after a moment, "That last combination, compression into release? That wasn't something you just memorized. That was instinct,"
May rubbed the back of her neck, embarrassed, "Th-thanks. Honestly? I was just trying not to freeze,"
He laughed softly, "That's usually when the best performances happen,"
She glanced at him, "Can I… ask you something?"
"Sure,"
"Why did you really do it?" she asked quietly, "You didn't have to give up the win,"
Robert looked ahead for a few steps before answering, "Because I remember my first contest. I remember what it felt like to almost touch something amazing, and miss," He smiled at her again, "You didn't miss,"
They reached the doors, sunlight spilling in as they stepped outside.
And immediately, "MAY!" Max came sprinting over, skidding to a stop in front of her, eyes shining, "YOU WERE AMAZING!"
May laughed, crouching slightly as he nearly bowled into her, "Hey! You're gonna knock me over!"
He straightened, grinning ear to ear, "Ash and Brock already went ahead! They said they made a reservation at some super fancy restaurant to celebrate!"
"Wait—what?" May blinked, "A fancy restaurant?"
Max nodded vigorously, "Yeah! Ash said something about 'no excuses,' and Brock mainly said he was going to stop Ash from paying for all of it himself,"
From a few steps back, Robert chuckled, "Sounds like a good team,"
"They are," May said fondly, "Uh-thank you again, Robert. Really,"
He inclined his head, "Anytime. I'll be watching your future performances. Let's meet again, but next time, I won't lose,"
With a final friendly wave, he turned and headed down the street.
May exhaled, her shoulders finally relaxing, then she heard a voice that made her jump.
"Ah. There you are,"
She turned to see Drew approaching from the side, posture relaxed, that familiar confident smile in place. He held a single rose between his fingers, twirling it once. May still didn't like him; she held back a groan and briefly wondered what her chances were of just running to the restaurant from here.
"You exceeded my expectations," Drew said smoothly, "Well, Beautifly did, and I can give props when I see it. So, here is a gift for Beautifly,"
He flicked his wrist.
Before the rose could leave his hand, Max stepped directly in front of May, arms spread wide like a defensive wall.
"NOPE,"
Drew blinked, "…Excuse me?"
Max tilted his head up, eyes narrowed in pure, overprotective intensity, "She's not interested,"
May sputtered, "M-Max?!"
"And," Max continued rapidly, "she already has someone she likes,"
Drew raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"Yes!" Max nodded firmly, "Very strong. Very cool. Very heroic. Definitely not you,"
May's face went completely red, "MAX!"
Drew stared at the kid now standing between him and May like a human shield, the rose still pinched between his fingers, "…I was just—"
"Nope," Max said, popping the p. He planted his feet wider, arms out again for emphasis. He only knew Drew through what May and Ash had told him, and that impression was… not positive. Even if it had been, he still wouldn't allow it.
May grabbed him by the shoulders and tried to tug him back, "Max, stop it! You're being weird!"
"I am being protective," Max shot back, not budging an inch, "Very important brother duties,"
Inside Max's head, he was already thinking that now that May was popular, all sorts of rivals would show up, and he couldn't allow that.
As far as he was concerned, none of them could be his future brother-in-law. He only wanted Ash to be his brother-in-law, which meant Ash and May had to get together. It was the perfect plan, and that meant protecting May from every new guy who tried to get close to her.
Max grabbed May's hand and pulled her along, "Come on, May, we're leaving. We have to go get dinner at that VERY expensive restaurant with Ash and Brock," he said, putting extra emphasis on Ash.
May was still frozen, processing what had just happened, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She didn't even understand half of it. Max pumped his fist, convinced he had successfully blocked a rival.
Drew blinked a few times, still holding the rose as he watched the siblings march away. He honestly didn't know what had just happened. Had he just been rejected? He wasn't sure.
By the time Max and May reached the restaurant, May finally snapped out of it when she heard Ash call out to her. She looked around and saw Ash and Brock at a table, waving her and Max over with smiles.
May was still confused, but she was hungry, stressed, and more than ready to stress-eat pasta. She also needed to thank Ash for letting her borrow his move. So, for now, she let it go and joined them, releasing Max's hand.
Meanwhile, Max rubbed his hands together, watching his plan go exactly as planned.