Stand by You part 2 of 4

Chapter 56: Let the Contest Begin!

"Where are Jessie, James, Annastasia, Rumika, Meowth, and Lucy?" Misty asked Brock, who had just joined them at the contest grounds.

"I thought they'd be here by now", he replied.

"They gave me their contest passes, so I was able to register for them, but they can't compete if they don't show up!" Misty said in a frustrated voice.

"You talkin' 'bout us?" said Meowth.

He and Lucy walked up to Misty and Brock, who were standing by the registrar.

"I was starting to get anxious", said Misty. "I thought something happened to you guys".

"Awe, she really does care", said James as he, Jessie, Wobbufet, and Rumika came up behind them. James was holding baby Annastasia, who was dressed in a Purrloin onesy.

"Here are your tickets to enter", said Misty, handing them each a pass.

"Are all four of you competing?" asked Brock.

"Yep. We want the odds in our favor", said Jessie.

"Wobba wob", added Wobbufet.

"What about you?" Misty asked Rumika.

"It's not really my thing", she answered.

"You should have been here an hour ago, the first contestant goes up in five minutes", Misty scolded.

"Yes but it was windy, and we had to stop the Meowth balloon a few times in order to change Annastasia", said James. "It's hard traveling with a large group and a baby".

"Only you guys would be crazy enough to bring a baby on a hot air balloon", she retorted.

"I told them not to", Lucy said defensively. "But James didn't want to leave their beloved balloon behind".

"I have been waiting years to beat that twerp at a Pokeringer contest. There is no way I am missing my chance", James said defensively.

"Anyway, all that matters is that you are here now", said Brock. "Now go see when you go"

Jessie, James, Meowth, Lucy, Rumika, Annastasia, and Wobbufet ran straight to the coordinator waiting room to check the schedule.

"Right, see you after the contest", Brock waved to them as they ran off.

"Let's go see where Ash is sitting", Misty said to Brock.

Misty and Brock joined Ash, Yuma, Gary, Max, Dawn, Iris, Cilan, Tracey, Duplica, Mondo, Rumika, Bianca, Zoey, Barry, and Drew, who were there to watch Misty, Bonnie, Serena, May, Jessie, James, Meowth, and Lucy compete. Everyone else who wanted to compete in the grand festival already won the required five.

"Shouldn't you bet getting ready?" Ash asked Misty.

"I'm contestant number 50, so I have at least an hour before it is my turn to go", she replied.

Brock looked at Yuma curiously. "What's your name?" Brock asked the girl.

"I'm Yuma. Ash said that I can sit with him", she said happily. The Togepi in her arms cheered.

"She's a 'fan' of Ash's", Misty explained.

"Oh", he replied.

He sat down next to his friends and watched as the first three contestants performed. Each contestant was allowed to use up to three Pokémon in the performance, but most coordinators only used one or two.

"Did Jessie and James get here on time?" asked Drew.

"They here five minutes ago", Misty explained.