The next day, the Pokémon Contest began as scheduled. As one of the Sinnoh Region's major cities, Jubilife City naturally hosted a large-scale Pokémon Contest. That morning, many Trainers and spectators headed for the stadium hosting the contest. After breakfast, Xiaoyun and Dawn took the formal outfits they needed for the competition and followed them out.
"Dawn, are you done changing yet?"
"Not yet. Give me another minute."
"Dawnie, are you ready now?"
"Stop rushing me! Of course girls need a little more time to change."
Backstage at the Pokémon Contest, Xiaoyun and Piplup leaned against the wall outside the changing room, picking at their fingers in boredom and occasionally calling in to ask Dawn how she was doing.
"Sigh, who said girls were only terrifying when they went shopping? I think changing clothes and putting on makeup are every bit as bad."
"Piplup." (Exactly.)
Just as the bored Xiaoyun kept picking at his fingers and was even about to give himself a manicure with his teeth, the changing room door suddenly opened.
Dawn stepped out in her formal dress, walked up to Xiaoyun, and lifted her skirt for a graceful twirl as she said:
"Ta-da! Dawn, the prettiest contestant in the Pokémon Contest, has arrived! What do you think, Xiaoyun? Am I pretty?"
"P-pretty. Very pretty. Absolutely beautiful, my princess."
The sight of Dawn in her new outfit left Xiaoyun a little stunned. Gazing at her delicate face, he stammered out his answer.
Dawn was no longer wearing her white hat. Her blue hair was tied in a high ponytail, with yellow clips securing it on either side. A red bow tie sat at her neck, and her usual short skirt had been replaced by an elegant long dress. The sash at her waist was tied into a bow, and she wore pink low-heeled shoes. She truly was as beautiful as a princess.
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, my knight."
Dawn was very pleased with Xiaoyun's reaction. All that time spent dressing up had been worth it-wasn't this the very moment she had done it for? Gently lifting her skirt with both hands, she dipped into a slight curtsy before Xiaoyun, the gesture noble ladies used to express their thanks.
"Then, my princess, would you allow me to escort you to the contestants' waiting room?"
Xiaoyun extended a hand to Dawn and bowed slightly as he spoke.
"Of course." Dawn happily placed her hand in his and agreed.
Piplup followed behind, watching the two of them and thinking they really knew how to play things up. He would have to do the same in the future.
On the way to the waiting room, Xiaoyun spotted someone from behind with a yellow mouse and a purple monkey perched on his shoulders. Together, they had to weigh twenty-some jin, yet he seemed to carry them effortlessly.
He was even chatting casually with the people beside him. Such a mighty warrior-whose general was this?
"Xiaoyun, Dawn! We meet again!"
The general turned around and greeted them happily.
"Oh, it's you, Ash. Aren't you supposed to be challenging Gyms? What brings you to a Pokémon Contest?"
Seeing him, Xiaoyun also greeted Ash with a smile.
He thought, Hmm... it had to be you. Who besides you, the rookie from Pallet Town, could carry those two Pokémon so casually?
"Well, Aipom wanted to perform, and Jubilife City happened to be holding a Pokémon Contest, so I brought him here to compete." Ash showed Xiaoyun the Aipom on his shoulder, and the little monkey waved excitedly at the two of them.
"Oh, that's not bad. Trying different kinds of competitions is a good thing. Just remember to keep Gym battles your main focus. Don't stray from your own path."
Looking at this turncoat monkey, Xiaoyun immediately reminded Ash. After all, this monkey really loved Pokémon Contests. The fact that he could even compete alongside Jessie was pretty impressive too.
"I will. The League tournament is definitely still my goal." Hearing this, Ash thought Xiaoyun was showing concern for him and responded.
"Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but from what you were just saying, it sounds like you aren't a Coordinator?"
Just then, a girl interrupted them. She wore a European-style men's tailcoat, with yellow hair and a rather cool face. Without a closer look, one might have mistaken her for a boy.
"Ah... right. I'm a battle Trainer aiming to become a Pokémon Master. I'm only entering the Pokémon Contest to fulfill Aipom's wish."
Ash immediately answered when he heard someone ask him. After speaking, he even stroked Aipom's head. From that display, it was clear that Ash truly did love Pokémon deeply.
"In that case, please make sure you don't enter next time."
After hearing Ash's answer, the girl's expression shifted, as though she were holding something back. After a long while, she said:
"Pokémon Contests are sacred ground for Coordinators. The Coordinators who come here all train hard to win Ribbons and become top Coordinators. This isn't somewhere you can just come to play around with your Pokémon."
"Ah, I, um..."
Ash wanted to explain, but the girl nodded to Dawn and Xiaoyun and had already walked away, leaving him no chance.
"That girl's a little arrogant. She's suddenly making me want to enter this contest."
Xiaoyun watched the girl walk away. Although he knew what she said was right, something about her tone really rubbed him the wrong way. He felt like teaching her a lesson.
"You mean Zoey? She's really nice. She even helped bring me my bow tie in the dressing room just now."
"And Zoey only debuted as a Coordinator this year, but she's already won a Ribbon. You could call her my senior."
"As for how she acted just now, maybe Pokémon Contests hold such a lofty place in her heart that she can't accept anyone treating them like a game."
Dawn had a fairly good impression of the girl who had just helped her. She explained to Xiaoyun that Zoey wasn't someone cold like Paul.
"Oh... I see. So she's a rather stubborn girl."
Xiaoyun couldn't very well embarrass Dawn by arguing. He thought, So she's just rigid, really. Afraid she'll take a blow if someone else gets good results in both.
Besides, even the Pokémon Contest organizers haven't objected to Trainers entering. What are you getting so worked up about?
"Anyway, I'm heading to the audience seats to cheer you on."
Xiaoyun turned to look at Ash's dazed expression and guessed that Zoey's words had gotten to him, so he offered some advice. "Ash, I'm off. Don't worry about what other people think. Just be yourself and give the competition your best."
"Oh... oh, okay." Ash answered Xiaoyun, but he still looked a little dazed. Clearly, Zoey's words had touched something in his soul.
"Dawn, don't be afraid, and don't be nervous. Just show what you're capable of. You'll be the brightest star on that stage, and I'll always be behind you."
Xiaoyun gently hugged Dawn beside him, a complete change from how he had been complaining about Zoey moments earlier. Before Dawn could even react, he had already left the waiting room.
"Thank you, Xiaoyun." The nervousness Dawn had been feeling gradually faded with Xiaoyun's words. She smiled in the direction he had disappeared, expressing her thanks in her heart.
(Could all you big shots please leave a positive rating or a comment? I'm begging you.)