The atmosphere inside the Jubilife Contest Hall had shifted from festive to electric. This wasn't just a performance anymore; it was a high-stakes duel under the bright lights of the final stage. On the giant monitors, the portraits of the two finalists flickered with intensity.
"First, entering from the left, a Coordinator who has already proven her mettle across the Sinnoh region! With one Ribbon already under her belt and three Contests of experience, please welcome the pride of Eterna City—Aoko!"
Aoko stepped out, looking like a professional. She had traded her casual gear for a stunning white gown. The hem was embroidered with deep blue wave patterns, and real pearls stitched into the fabric shimmered like sea foam under the spotlights. She looked every bit the Water-type specialist.
"And on the right, the newcomer who has taken Jubilife by storm! He swept the first round with a performance that left us breathless and has fought his way to the top with surgical precision! From Sandgem Town, here is Julian!"
I walked onto the stage, feeling the weight of my custom outfit. I'd gone for something classic—a deep blue cape and a matching wide-brimmed hat, a subtle nod to the legendary Aura Guardians of the past. It felt right. It felt like a debut that people would remember.
Aoko and I met in the center of the stage for a brief moment before retreating to our marks.
"I've got to be honest, Julian," Aoko said, her voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd. "I didn't think a rookie could pull off a performance like yours, let alone reach the finals. But seeing you here? It makes me want to win even more!"
"That's the spirit," I replied with a grin. "This is Flabébé's big debut. We aren't planning on leaving without that Ribbon. Let's give them a show they'll never forget!"
Vivian raised her microphone high. "Both sides are ready! The clock is set for five minutes! For the honor of the Jubilife Ribbon... BEGIN!"
Ding-ding!
"Piplup, take the stage!" "Flabébé, shine brightly!"
The two Pokémon emerged in a burst of light. Piplup appeared centered in a cluster of shimmering blue bubbles, while Flabébé hit the field with her signature calming fragrance. The crowd was already cheering before a single move was made.
"Flabébé, let's take control! Grassy Terrain!"
I knew I needed the home-field advantage. Flabébé began her rhythmic flight, glowing with a soft emerald light. The energy spilled over the stage, turning the hard floor into a lush, vibrant meadow. In a real battle, this would heal us and boost our Grass moves; in a Contest, it was about painting the canvas in our colors.
"Not so fast! Piplup, interrupt her with Bubble Beam!"
Aoko wasn't going to let me set up for free. A stream of high-pressure bubbles spiraled toward Flabébé. But my partner was already in her "dance" mode. She dipped and dove between the bubbles with the grace of a leaf in the wind. The bubbles popped harmlessly against the stage, while the green light of the terrain finished its spread.
"Oh! Julian successfully establishes his field!" Vivian shouted. "Aoko tried to pop the strategy early, but Flabébé's evasive dance was too smooth! Points to Julian!"
"If we can't stop the grass, we'll freeze the air! Piplup, Icy Wind!"
Aoko was smart. She knew Grass-types hated the cold. Piplup inhaled deeply and exhaled a freezing gust of blue-tinted air.
"Wind against wind, Flabébé! Fairy Wind!"
The two storms collided in the center of the stage. Pink sparkles clashed with icy blue frost, creating a chaotic vortex of energy. For a moment, it was a stalemate, but the sheer magical potency of the Fairy Wind pushed through the cold. It didn't have enough power left to hurt Piplup, but it forced the penguin to dodge, keeping the pressure on.
"It's a dead heat!" Vivian narrated excitedly. "Neither side is giving an inch! Bubble Beam clashes with Magical Leaf! Vine Whip meets Fury Attack! It's a beautiful exchange of power and grace!"
The scores on the board were ticking down in lockstep. 4:00... 3:00... 2:00... Every time I landed a hit, Aoko would counter with a brilliant display of bubbles or a high-speed spin. The "Sea of Flowers" from the first round was useless here; the pace was too fast. Aoko was intentionally keeping the tempo high to stop me from setting up a grand finale.
She's trying to run down the clock while the score is even, I realized. If it ends in a draw or a narrow gap, the judges might favor her experience. I need a knockout blow.
"Flabébé! The Grassy Terrain is peaking!" I shouted. "Gather every bit of energy left in the field! Maximum Power Magical Leaf!"
Flabébé retreated to the back of the stage, hovering high. She began to glow with an intense, pulsing green light. Below her, the Grassy Terrain started to wither, the vibrant green color being "sucked" upward into a sphere of energy forming in front of Flabébé's flower.
"She's draining her own field for one big attack!" Vivian gasped. "It's all or nothing!"
"I don't think so!" Aoko cried. "Piplup, we're going in! Use Peck combined with Fury Attack! Break through that Fairy Wind and finish this now!"
Piplup became a blue-and-white blur. His beak glowed with blinding white light as he charged straight into the pink storm Flabébé had left as a parting gift. It was like watching a torpedo through the water; Piplup parted the Fairy Wind with sheer force, his eyes locked onto his target.
He was fast. Too fast. He was halfway across the stage before Flabébé had finished the charge.
"He's going to make it!" the crowd cheered.
"One more second..." I whispered, my heart hammering. "Just one more..."
Piplup leaped into the air, his glowing beak aimed right at Flabébé's chest. He was mere inches away when the green sphere in front of Flabébé reached critical mass.
"NOW! RELEASE!"
The Magical Leaf didn't just fire; it erupted. A concentrated beam of glowing emerald leaves, reinforced by the entire energy of the Grassy Terrain, slammed into the charging Piplup.
The collision was violent. The white energy of the Peck met the green fury of the Leaves, creating a massive explosion of light and sound. A dense cloud of white smoke instantly swallowed the center of the stage, obscuring both Pokémon.
The hall went deathly silent. Even Vivian stopped talking. Five thousand people held their breath, waiting for the smoke to clear. The timer on the screen froze at 0:15.
The smoke began to swirl, carried away by the lingering drafts of the Fairy Wind. Slowly, a small, floating figure became visible.
Flabébé was still in the air. Her blue flower was singed at the edges, and she looked exhausted, but she was hovering, her eyes bright with victory.
Below her, in the middle of a scorched patch of stage, Piplup was slumped over. He tried to push himself up with a flipper, chirped once in a dazed tone, and then fell back down. His eyes were swirling.