Journeying Through Johto

Chapter 11: Fighting Fame With Flame

Hello everyone!

From now on my updates will probably be less frequent than they used to be but I definitely plan to keep writing. I won't leave you guys hanging. This chapter is the longest one by far so enjoy!

Also, thank you to whoever has reviewed so far! I really appreciate you! Thank you also to those silent readers who are following this story. It means a lot.

Anyways, here's the new chapter. If you don't remember, the last chapter was May and Drew training for the Violet city pair contest. And this chapter is the day of the contest! Will they win or will they lose? Read to find out!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

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May was surprised by the massive crowd of people gathered around the contest hall entrance, many of them reporters, as she and Drew approached the building for the contest that would be starting in half an hour.

"I wonder why there are so many reporters here," May voiced her thoughts.

"It's probably because this is a different kind of contest," Drew explained. "There's never been one with pairs before so everyone wants to know how it's going to be."

"Oh that makes sense! It's pretty cool how we get to be in this new type of contest first, don't you think?" May grinned.

"Yeah, it is," Drew agreed. "Let's go around, okay?" He gestured toward the left side of the building. "Or the reporters will end up bombarding us with questions."

"Yeah, you're probably right," May agreed. "Although," she said after a moment as they made their way to the side entrance. "I always thought you liked the attention." She eyed Drew to see his reaction.

"No, not a fan of it." Drew shook his head. "What made you think that?" May shrugged.

"I don't know.... you just always seem so comfortable when there are people around, like your fans." Well, I guess that act really does work, Drew thought.

"Well it's all about keeping up an image. It's important to have a good standing when you're a famous coordinator. It helps later on," he explained. "But fans do get pretty annoying sometimes, you sort of just have to deal with that. It's the cost of being a talented coordinator. But they're not as annoying as reporters who get all up in your personal life."

"Yeah, that's true. I'm glad I haven't had to deal with a lot of that yet."

"It won't be long. The better you get and the farther you make it, the more attention you'll get. I mean, you do have quite a lot already after you beat me in Kanto and made it to the semi-finals." May looked at him, slightly surprised. He had never directly mentioned his loss against her aloud before.

"Yeah, hopefully I handle it well," she smiled as they entered the hall.

"I'm sure you will. Oh and just be ready. After the contest today, we'll probably just have to answer some of the reporters' questions. My advice would be to just-"

"Right this way please," A woman with short brown hair ushered them through the door that led to the coordinators' room and Drew's next words were driven from his mind as they entered to see pair upon pair of coordinators crowding the area, nervous or excited or both, their loud chatter filling the room.

"Wow I've never seen so many people at a contest before," May commented. Drew nodded.

"Yeah. Not only because the amount of people is doubled but it seems like a lot of coordinators found out about this contest and wanted to enter." They had to squeeze their way through the packs of people causing many of them to notice May and Drew and start whispering.