Stranded in Petalburg

Chapter 10: Nerves in the Spotlight

Chapter 10: Nerves in the Spotlight

May stared at the light green hydraulic double-doors that remained closed in front of her, the only thing separating May from the arena, the field, and the thousands of audience members cheering, their yells and screams of jubilation reverberating through the air, ensuring no person would be able to hide from its noise. It was actually quite silent in the hallway that led to the arena field. The closed doors all but masked the sound of fans cheering from the stands, reducing them to nothing but a gentle hum that floated through the air, lightly tickling the exterior of May's ears.

She turned her head to look behind her and into the long, winding hallway that had brought her to this point, not another soul in sight. The fluorescent lighting lit up the barren, green hallway, providing a feeling that could only be compared to that of a liminal space. May wasn't given much instruction; just head down the hallway and wait until she's called out.

May glanced down at the Pokeballs strapped to her waist belt. Her eyes plotted the order in which she had arranged her Pokemon for the umpteenth time, ensuring she would never make a mistake. In the first slot was Venusaur, of course, as it would be the first Pokemon she used. She hadn't quite made up her mind yet about what her Pokemon would be for the next round, so that would require some further thinking. May lightly rubbed Venusaur's Pokeball and felt a light shiver run through her spine.

It had been awhile since she last performed.

The thought ran through her head once again. She had no reason to be nervous, the amount of people in the stands paled in comparison to that of a grand festival, let alone one that she had taken home a victory from. What was it making her nervous?

Turning her head, she made eye contact with herself through the reflection of a crate nearby, its cold, metal surface staring her right back in the eye. May continued to stare at herself for a moment as she found her fingers begin to fidget with her skirt.

Something just felt so off to her. She'd never felt this way before any performance. It was a combination of nervousness, and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. It was like the feeling you get when you feel like there's something that you know should be bothering you, but you've simply forgotten what it is, causing a little stress to build up while you don't even know the cause.

Her reflection continued to stare at May as she blinked a few times. She realized just how much she had truly grown over the last few years. She used to be a small, immature, and inexperienced young girl, but she had now blossomed into a talented, experienced, and cunning young woman. She'd accomplished incredible things, and so many at that. Yet through it all, something still felt as if it was missing. It was like a piece of her chest had been taken out and hidden, and she had no idea where or why.

May's thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the hydraulics on the green doors began to slowly hiss, pushing the doors open. The bright sunlight penetrated into the hallway, slightly blinding May as she was forced to adjust to the change in lighting. The previous low humming sound of the fluorescent lights had been replaced by almost deafening cheers as May heard a few words broadcast over the stadium sound system.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Pokemon trainers near and far, and humble residents of Petalburg City, welcome to the thrilling world of Pokemon Contests in none other than the brand new Petalburg City Stadium!" boomed the announcer in an electrifying voice over the speakers. At the end of his welcome, the cheers seemed to grow even louder, defying what many might think was its limit in terms of noise. "My name is Marcus Mills and today, we have a special treat for you as we host our first ever event in Petalburg City Stadium! Please pay close attention and let your minds be amazed at the captivating talents of our extensive lineup of seasoned coordinators, the best that Petalburg has to offer! Be ready as they showcase their skills and dazzle us with their Pokemon's abilities!" The announcer continued over the speaker.