On the day of the Flora Expo, the weather was splendid with only a few leisurely clouds drifting across the clear blue sky, lifting everyone's spirits.
In early May, the sunlight was still gentle, allowing pedestrians to stroll on the streets without feeling any oppressive heat. Surrounded by lush vegetation, there was even a refreshing coolness in the air.
For breakfast, Lian once again prepared his concoction of 'mud.' Although it tasted decent, its appearance left much to be desired. However, since he had created this dish himself, he had no choice but to consume it.
Lian realized that he needed to find more ingredients capable of accelerating growth. By experimenting with various combinations and selecting the best ones, he could vary his diet daily.
Continuously eating this dark-colored food would eventually make him feel nauseous, and its effectiveness would diminish over time. Switching between different foods could maintain optimal results each day.
After finishing his meal, Kalia accompanied Lian as they left the hotel and headed towards the location of the Flora Expo, situated within a dense forest near Rhine City.
Within the forest, there was a vast open area specifically constructed for hosting the Flora Expo, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of attendees. Although this year's event attracted a large crowd, it still did not exceed ten thousand participants.
The primary allure of the Flora Expo lay in the artistic beauty of plants and flowers, which did not appeal to everyone's interests.
Kalia had arranged to meet Julian just outside the forest. As they approached, even early in the morning, she noticed numerous girls traveling together towards the Flora Expo location.
Girls often have a natural affinity for beautiful things, making the Flora Expo particularly popular among them. Each year, a significant number of female participants compete in the expo, including several female Trainers who specialize with Grass-type Pokémon. These trainers excel at nurturing and cultivating the most exquisite flora due to their expertise with Grass-type Pokemon.
"I'm here; I didn't miss anything, right?"
Upon reaching the forest outskirts, Kalia waited briefly before Julian hurriedly arrived.
Kalia shook her head, "No, you're right on time. Let's go inside." She typically preferred arriving early, and indeed, they still had some time before the Flora Expo officially began.
Together, they entered the dense forest, following a quiet path towards the location of the Flora Expo.
Lian retreated into his Poké Ball, as precautionary fire safety measures prohibited Fire-type Pokémon from being present amidst the wooded area. This was to prevent accidental release of Fire-type moves during playful interactions among Pokémon, which could potentially lead to devastating wildfires and loss of vast forested regions.
Of course, weaker Fire-type Pokémon were generally not a concern, since their flames were insufficient to ignite trees unless intentionally directed, which would be handled differently under such circumstances.
As the pair walked along the small path lined with colorful flowers on both sides, it seemed endless at first glance.
Progressing further, they gradually heard increasing chatter. The Flora Expo attracted people from various regions who had gathered here, engaging in lively conversations.
The venue's open space was expansive; despite already being crowded, a large central area remained clear for showcasing the floral entries once the expo began.
The crowd naturally formed concentric circles around the open area, with some individuals even occupying nearby trees.
In past Flora Expos, due to overwhelming attendance and limited space, sturdy platforms were constructed on surrounding trees. These elevated vantage points allowed for additional spectators to stand above and observe from a higher viewpoint.
Not everyone chose to climb the trees, as arriving early provided ample ground space. Kalia and Julian opted for a large tree, leaping onto one of its platforms to secure a better view of the upcoming Flora Expo.
"The Flora Expo hasn't started yet; there's still about an hour left," Julian mentioned. It was currently 7:00 AM, with the expo scheduled to commence promptly at 8:00 AM.
However, waiting wasn't their only option. Already, numerous participants had arrived, bringing along their cultivated plants.
They carried pots containing their meticulously nurtured flora, shrouded mysteriously under covers.
Before the expo officially began, competitors were not allowed to freely display their cultivated plants. Despite this, the participants stood confidently, anticipation building.
Time passed swiftly as the Flora Expo approached its official start.
Security personnel also appeared on the scene to maintain order. With such a large crowd expected, any unruly behavior could significantly disrupt the event, necessitating audience discipline and silence.
While most attendees were mindful of this, there was always a chance that a few talkative individuals might influence others, requiring intervention from security staff.
"He's here."
"It's a statue of Celebi!"
Suddenly, exclamations erupted from the front of the crowd. A group dressed formally arrived, carrying a sculpture towards the venue.
The statue depicted none other than Celebi, with its graceful green form. Crafted by an unknown great master, it appeared remarkably lifelike and authentic.
"So this is what Celebi looks like," Julian remarked upon seeing the statue. Many people had only heard legends about these Pokémon, and their sole exposure had been through movies, which often greatly differed from reality.
The filmmakers themselves had never seen a real legendary Pokémon; they relied solely on descriptions from books and embellished them to create visually appealing characters for their movies.
The statue was massive, standing at least two meters tall without including its base, which added another meter or more. In reality, Celebi is quite petite. Legend has it that this Pokémon possesses the ability to traverse time, wandering through the river of ages, with no one knowing where it might appear.
With Celebi's statue prominently placed in the center, the Flora Expo entered its final countdown before officially commencing.
The Flora Expo operated on a scoring system, where judges evaluated the beauty of each floral entry. However, these judges were not humans but rather Pokemon.
Pokemon have pure instincts, enabling them to discern beauty without the complexities found in human judgment. The selected judge-Pokémon were carefully chosen for their role.
There were four judge-Pokémon: Bellossom, Meganium, Sylveon, and Gardevoir. These specially trained Pokemon ensured fair and unbiased evaluations, ultimately selecting the most beautiful flower at the Flora Expo.