Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 81: Grace in Flight

The road away from Neighborly Town widened into open grassland, and the afternoon wind carried the smell of cut fields across the path. Dawn walked ahead with her Ribbon case tucked against her chest, checking the latch again even though she had already checked it twice.

Lillie smiled as Dawn snapped the case closed. "They are still there. Five Ribbons do not vanish because you are nervous."

Dawn laughed, but her fingers stayed near the case. "I know, but the Grand Festival feels more real every time I look."

Piplup puffed out his chest beside her. His meaning came proudly. "We earned them together. I will not let her forget."

I grinned while Pikachu balanced on my shoulder. "That sounds like a good partner's job."

We expected another quiet stretch toward Valor Lakefront, but the next town made that impossible. Banners crossed the main street of Arrowroot Town, posters covered every window, and the Contest Hall glittered with fresh decorations. Coordinators hurried between booths, while children waved ribbon-shaped fans in the crowd.

Dawn stopped so suddenly that Piplup nearly bumped into her legs. "A final Contest? Here?"

Daniel read one of the posters carefully. "It appears to be the last regular Contest before Grand Festival registration closes."

Tox watched the rushing Coordinators with a clinical frown. "Then anyone still missing one Ribbon will be desperate today."

A familiar laugh drifted from behind a souvenir stall. Jessie posed in a purple dress with Wobbuffet beside her, holding four Ribbons close enough to her face that she almost poked herself.

"Prepare yourselves for the sight of a future Grand Festival star!" Jessie declared. "One more Ribbon, and Jessilina becomes the name every Coordinator whispers with envy."

Dawn softened a little as Jessie swept toward the hall. "She really is close."

Before we could answer, two guards in formal uniforms hurried toward us. A girl followed them with her hood drawn low, but the hood slipped when she stopped. For a heartbeat, I thought Dawn had somehow changed clothes and stepped in front of us.

Dawn stared back with the same wide-eyed shock. "She looks just like me."

The girl clasped her hands together. "You are Dawn, are you not? The Coordinator who won the Daybreak Ribbon?"

Dawn nodded carefully. "That is me, but who are you?"

The guards stiffened, but the girl gave them a pleading glance. "Please, just for a moment." She turned back to Dawn with a nervous smile. "My name is Salvia. I am the princess of this kingdom, and I have watched every Contest broadcast I could find."

Dawn's surprise shifted into confusion. "A princess watches my Contests?"

Salvia nodded quickly. "I watched because I wanted to stand on that stage. I have dreamed of entering a Contest for years, but my duties always come first."

Her voice lowered as she looked toward the Contest Hall. "Today I must serve as the Contest ambassador. I greet guests, smile for photographs, and present the final ceremony. The Contest is right beside me, but I am not allowed to enter it."

Dawn glanced toward the hall, then back at Salvia. "What are you asking?"

Salvia took a shaky breath. "Switch places with me for one day. I will enter the Contest as you, and you will stand in my place as ambassador."

Piplup stepped in front of Dawn, his eyes narrowing. His meaning came suspiciously. "This smells like trouble wearing a pretty dress."

Dawn looked down at him, then back at Salvia. "That is a really big secret."