Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 41: Shared Ribbon

The next morning, Valor Lakefront felt even brighter than it had the day before. Banners snapped in the breeze, the Contest Hall doors stood open, and Coordinators from every region crowded the registration desks with polished Poké Balls and nervous smiles.

Lillie walked beside me with Pikachu perched between my shoulder and hers, while Dawn kept checking the card case she had already checked three times. May looked calm in that familiar way of hers, but I could tell her eyes were already studying the stage lights.

Reisa stretched both arms behind her head and laughed softly.

"This is different from Gym pressure," Reisa said with a bright smile. "Everyone here is trying to make losing look beautiful, too."

"That sounds even harder," Dawn admitted, holding Piplup's Poké Ball close.

"Then it means you are in the right place," May said kindly. "A good Contest makes you scared and excited at the same time."

We were still waiting in line when a familiar red-haired Coordinator turned around from the desk ahead of us. Zoey blinked once, then smiled like she had expected Dawn but not the rest of us.

"Zoey!" Dawn called out with relief.

"Don't tell me you're entering the Wallace Cup too," Zoey said, looking from Dawn to me with amused surprise.

"Yeah," I said, rubbing the back of my head. "Wallace is the Hoenn Champion, and we had a six-on-six battle before. He asked me to definitely attend, so I couldn't really say no."

Zoey's eyes widened a little, but she only folded her arms and grinned.

"That sounds like you," Zoey said. "Somehow, even a Contest becomes part of your battle history."

I turned toward the others, glad that the morning felt lighter.

"This is Reisa and May," I said. "Both of them used to travel with me, and both of them are excellent Coordinators."

"Nice to meet you," May said with an easy smile.

"Same here," Reisa added, giving Zoey a confident wave.

"Back at you," Zoey said, then looked at Dawn. "So, Dawn, I'm assuming you registered, right?"

"Of course," Dawn said quickly, though her voice came out higher than usual.

Buneary popped from her Poké Ball before Dawn could stop her. She landed beside Dawn's shoes, tugged gently at Dawn's sock, and looked up at the stage posters with trembling ears.

Dawn knelt beside her and touched her head carefully.

"You want to help today too?" Dawn asked softly.

Buneary's meaning came in a small, brave pulse. "My ears are shaking, but I still want to dance."

Dawn's nervous expression changed. It did not disappear, but it became steadier.

"Then we'll dance together," Dawn said.

Piplup crossed his flippers and gave a proud supervising chirp.

The performance round began beneath glittering lights. Wallace stood with the judges, while the water field shimmered in the center like a piece of the lake brought indoors.

May was one of the first Coordinators called. She stepped forward with the confidence of many hard stages survived.

"Blastoise, take the stage!" May called.

Blastoise burst from his Poké Ball in blue light. He landed heavily, but the splash rose in a clean ring instead of a messy crash.

"Rapid Spin!" May called, pointing toward the water.