let's go on a JOURNEY! (POKEMON ORAS)

10. NEVER

"And we are live in Lilycove City Contest Hall! Tonight, we will be showing a Contest Spectacular!"

The crowd roared and cheered. The lights up on stage were turned on. The judges readied their score sheets. And, the contestants readied their pokémon. The air was filled with excitement. And still she couldn't help but to feel sick.

"First, we will start with the primary judging round! It is up to you, the audience, to decide which of these pokémon are the cutest! First up, we have Amy and Kitty!"

The audience applauded for the petite blonde girl and her Skitty. They did a twirl on stage, then exited left.

"Up next, we have May and Ludicolo!"

Trying her hardest not to throw up, May led her pokémon out onto the stage. They also did a twirl, and May even struck a pose at the end. The crowd got considerably quieter, much to her embarrassment.

She hurried offstage, unable to take the pressure anymore. "Excuse me!" she said, running up to the backstage director. "Excuse me, sorry, but is there anyway I can drop this contest?"

The director gave her a funny look. "No, dear," he replied. "Once you're in, you're in."

'Oh, great,' May thought to herself. 'This is lovely...'

"And that's it for the primary round! Now, we will move on to the appeal round! And first up, we have Amy and Kitty once more!"

May watched as the duo took the stage again. Kitty performed some sort of cutesy, sparkly attack. The crowd went wild, and cheers were heard all around. They took a bow, and the judges held up their scorecards. Naturally, they were all very high.

When May registered for the 'cute' contest, she did so just because it sounded the most appealing. And when she went to register a pokémon, she picked Ludicolo because he had the most fun and cute behavior... Not necessarily because he was a 'cute' pokémon who could perform cute moves. She was kicking herself over and over again for being such an idiot.

"Up next, we have May and Ludicolo!"

She heard the crowd hush themselves once again as she and her pokémon took the stage. "Um... Ludicolo!" she started, her voice shaking with nerves. "Dance, and do Rock Smash!"

Ludicolo gave an affirmative cry. He hopped around on one leg, and then the other, and did a little twirl. Finally, with his palms outstretched, he slapped them hard against the arena floor. The crowd was completely silent.

"...May?" one of the judges said, sounding a bit confused. "This is a cute contest. Your moves are looking a little too tough."

"...Um, uh, sorry..." May stuttered. She rushed backstage, with Ludicolo following suit. She wasn't even going to bother with waiting for the contest to finish. They had to get out of there, and they had to get out now. She gathered her belongings and rushed out the door with Ludicolo still following. They were gone so fast the director didn't have enough time to shout after them.

This was the most embarrassing moment of her life so far. She would never, ever participate in a contest again. And the worst part of it all? It was being broadcasted live, on TV, for the whole nation to see...