Time flowed silently, and six days passed in a flash, leaving no trace.
On the morning of the competition day, 8:53 AM.
The air in Rustboro City was filled with an restless atmosphere.
Lionel stood in his hotel room, adjusting his appearance in the mirror. The dashing young man reflected was completely different from the Lionel of before.
His fluffy, mint-green short hair had natural curls, with a few strands gently falling across his forehead, making his amethyst-like round eyes appear even clearer.
He wore a white suit with a dark vest featuring gilded buttons, a hint of a lake-green shirt collar peeking out, and a dark patterned tie, making him look like an elegant young noble.
This was the outfit Lionel had specially chosen for the competition.
Of course, it was rented, at two thousand Pokédollars a day, which pained Lionel greatly.
But Lionel knew it was essential. When meeting people, the first impression is crucial, and his previous appearance, carrying a fish tank, wasn't quite suitable for a Pokémon Contest.
His debut in the Pokémon Contest absolutely had to leave the most unforgettable mark in the memories of all spectators.
Tyrunt and Feebas were also different from usual; instead of being by Lionel's side, they obediently stayed in their Poké Balls.
For their first Pokémon Contest performance, Lionel and Feebas had rehearsed countless times. Today was the day to showcase everything.
The rules of a Pokémon Contest are completely different from Gym battles, consisting of three core stages:
Two rounds of judging and a final Contest Battle stage. The key to victory lies in overall performance, not just the battle outcome.
The first round of judging is the "Appeal Stage."
Trainers must partner with one Pokémon to complete a performance, which can involve visuals, dance, or costumes.
They can also guide their Pokémon to use moves with commands, or use props like frisbees to have them perform interactive actions such as knocking things away with moves. Judges score based on the elegance of the moves and the rapport between the Trainer and Pokémon. Those who meet the score standard advance to the next round.
The second round of judging is the "Advanced Performance Stage."
Trainers can switch to a different Pokémon than the one used in the first round. The focus of this round's scoring is on the combination of moves, further showcasing the elegant techniques of the Pokémon's moves. Only those with high scores can enter the final showdown.
After passing both judging rounds, the ultimate stage, the "Contest Battle," will begin.
The competition uses a knockout system, where contestants must compete while maintaining elegant beauty in battle, balancing combat ability with performance effect.
The battle is limited to five minutes, and both sides' points will be displayed in real time: points will be deducted if a Pokémon makes a move error, is suppressed by an opponent's elegant move, or is defeated and the opponent uses its own move to counterattack.
Most notably, even if an opponent is defeated in battle, victory can still be lost if the opponent had a higher cumulative score from the two judging rounds.
This is the Pokémon Contest for Pokémon Coordinators.
In front of the mirror, Lionel gave a final tug to his collar, walked to the window, and pushed it open. He could see that the number of Trainers coming and going on the street was several times greater than usual.
He gazed at this unusually lively scene, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes, and murmured,
"As expected, many people have come."
The news that Wallace would serve as a special judge was like a giant stone thrown into a lake, stirring up a thousand ripples in the entire Hoenn region's Coordinator community.
Wallace, the former Sootopolis City Gym Leader and Hoenn's dual Champion, was a legendary figure who even created and organized the Pokémon Contest tour, the "Wallace Cup."
In the hearts of all who aspired to be Coordinators, he was undoubtedly the most revered and admired presence.
It was Wallace who truly brought the unique profession of Coordinator into the public eye.
He deeply ingrained these Coordinators, who differ from traditional battle-oriented Trainers and focus on showcasing Pokémon's charm through combinations of moves and performance aesthetics, into everyone's hearts.
Such a legendary figure typically only served as a judge at the annual large-scale Pokémon Contest Gala in Lilycove City; it was extremely rare for him to even appear, let alone preside over, smaller local events.
Now, Wallace was willing to personally attend the Rustboro City competition. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity naturally drew all Coordinators with grand aspirations, eager to showcase their abilities before their idol.
The clock on the wall stopped at 8:58. Lionel was ready for everything... As Lionel stepped out of the hotel, he saw Pokémon Contest promotional posters hanging on shops along both sides of the street. On the posters, Wallace's smile was gentle and dazzling, with the words "Special Judge" written in gilded characters next to it.
Many Trainers were gathered around the posters taking photos. One young man in a green vest was live-streaming with his phone:
"Families, did you see it? A poster personally signed by Master Wallace! This competition is definitely unprecedented in its high standards. My Eevee must get its first win today!"
The Eevee in his arms struck a cute pose, with a pink bow tied to its ear, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Lionel followed the crowd to the Pokémon Contest venue.
The Pokémon Contest venue was located next to the city center plaza, a circular building constructed of glass and steel.
Its exterior walls were adorned with layers of colorful Ribbon patterns, reflecting dazzling light in the sun. From a distance, it looked like a brilliant gem radiating light.
Rustboro City, with Devon Corporation headquarters rooted there, had seen rapid development, with its infrastructure and venue construction standards steadily ranking second in the Hoenn region.
Although there was still a slight gap compared to the coastal port city of Lilycove City, Rustboro City's vibrant energy and orderly layout as a rising star city already demonstrated strong potential for future growth.
Lionel had initially worried that Wallace's sudden official announcement would cause a surge in crowds and affect the competition, but now it seemed that the spacious venue could easily handle this grand event.
The area outside the venue was already bustling with people, including participating Trainers, curious citizens, and even vendors selling Wallace-themed merchandise by the roadside, creating a lively atmosphere.
Inside the venue, a circular stage about twenty meters in diameter was set up in the center of the lawn, with a circle of color-changing LED strips embedded along its edge. A giant holographic projection device hung from the ceiling, capable of magnifying Pokémon move effects several times and projecting them into the air, creating a powerful visual impact.
Tiered audience seating surrounded the stage, and many Trainers were already inside.
Some were rehearsing interactive moves with their Pokémon, while others had their Pokémon gently use small moves to get familiar with the environment. The air was filled with both tension and excitement.
At this time, Trainers inside the venue were gathered in small groups, discussing the participants:
"Did you hear? Grace, a top four contestant from last year's Lilycove City Grand Pokémon Contest Gala, announced that she's also competing in Rustboro City!" A gasp echoed through the crowd, instantly piquing the interest of those around.
"I know her, I watched her competition last year. Her Medicham's performance was truly stunning!" Someone immediately chimed in, their tone full of admiration:
"Especially in the second round, her Medicham used a combination move, perfectly blending Confusion and Fire Punch. Beautiful, floating fiery lotuses appeared from Medicham's fists, earning unanimous praise from all the judges. It's still unforgettable to think about!"
"It's not just her!"
Someone else interjected, their eyes full of anticipation,
"There's also Armani, the dark horse from Fallarbor Town, and his Flareon is here too! He already holds three Ribbon Medals, and his strength absolutely cannot be underestimated.
I heard that when he learned Master Wallace would be present, he immediately changed course, abandoning his trip to Verdanturf Town, turning back, and rushing day and night to Rustboro City. It's clear he's aiming for the Ribbon Medal of this competition!"
"Oh no, this competition is too fierce!" Someone couldn't help but sigh, "There are only five Ribbon Medals in total, and two popular spots are already taken."
"It's three, actually!"
Another voice retorted, "Have you forgotten? A few days ago, there was a streamer who challenged Gym Leader Roxanne. Master Wallace even praised his Feebas's excellent move control in his live stream. It's said he also signed up for the competition, and this guy certainly shouldn't be underestimated!"
As soon as this person finished speaking, someone frowned:
"But his Feebas... its appearance isn't exactly outstanding.
Although it's a shiny individual and more pleasing to the eye than a regular Feebas, compared to the other contestants' beautiful-looking Pokémon, it's still a bit lacking. I actually don't think he'll go very far."
"Then where do you put Lizzi from Pacifidlog Town and her Jynx?" Someone immediately retorted, unconvinced:
"This is a Pokémon Contest; it relies on the display of move combinations and the perfect cooperation of the Trainer, not just a Pokémon beauty pageant based on appearance.
Ms. Lizzi's Jynx is also a Coordinator with three Ribbon Medals! If the competition only judged by appearance, would Jynx even need to compete? She might as well forfeit and leave!"
"That's not what I meant..."
Lionel stood in the crowd, listening to these discussions, and secretly sighed: This Pokémon Contest truly has many hidden talents. The challenge for him and Feebas was indeed considerable... The time reached 9:30 AM,
Half an hour until the competition begins.
Lionel turned on his live-streaming equipment and began his first Pokémon Contest challenge.