Three days passed in a blur of focused training and quiet preparation.
Before Gil knew it, the morning of the Cerulean Contest had arrived.
The contest hall buzzed with energy the moment he stepped inside. Bright lights reflected off the polished floors. The distant roar of the crowd echoed through the corridors. Staff members guided coordinators and their Pokémon toward the preparation rooms.
Gil followed the signs until he reached a quieter waiting area reserved for contestants. A large screen covered one wall, showing a live view of the main stage.
Several coordinators sat on cushioned benches or stood quietly along the edges. Their eyes stayed fixed on the performances. Some whispered to each other. Others held their Poké Balls tightly, unable to hide their nervousness.
Gil found an empty seat near the back.
He was dressed differently today. Instead of his usual travel clothes, he wore a fitted brown jacket over a white shirt, paired with brown pants. A subtle blue trim lined the jacket's collar, a quiet nod to Cerulean City's water theme. The outfit was simple yet elegant. For the first time, he looked less like a wandering trainer and more like a true coordinator.
He was the seventh contestant to perform.
The announcer's cheerful voice echoed through both the hall and the waiting room.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Cerulean Contest! For many of our coordinators today, this marks their very first time stepping onto a contest stage. We're excited to see what beauty, creativity, and coordination you'll bring to the Performance Round!"
"Now then… let's begin with our first contestant!"
On the screen, the first performance was already underway.
A young woman stood confidently beside her Piplup. The little penguin spun in graceful circles while releasing streams of sparkling bubbles. The bubbles caught the stage lights and burst into shimmering mist. The audience clapped in appreciation as the three judges scored the contestant.
Gil watched quietly, his arms crossed.
I've seen scenes like this so many times in the anime… but standing here, feeling the energy in the room, it feels completely different.
The next few performances came and went.
A Butterfree filled the stage with shimmering silver powder.
A Roselia sent glowing petals dancing through the air in elegant patterns.
Each appeal earned applause. Each one gave Gil something to think about.
He had watched countless Contest performances recently, and he understood what the judges looked for.
So over the past three days, he had worked tirelessly with his team to polish every move…
A small smile tugged at his lips.
So far… no one's used combination moves…
The training had paid off. Eevee, Charmeleon, and Scyther were ready.
Nearby, Eevee sat beside his leg. Her eyes pointed toward the screen. Every so often, she glanced up at him. Her tail swayed with nervous excitement.
Gil reached down and gently patted her head.
"We've got this girl..."
"Veee~♡" She leaned into his hand with a soft, happy cry.
One contestant after another stepped onto the stage.
Contestant Four.
Then Five.
Then Six.
Finally, the announcer's voice rang through the waiting room once more. This time, it carried extra energy.
"And now, our seventh contestant! Please welcome Gil to the stage! Let's see the beautiful performance he has prepared for us today!"
Gil rose to his feet and took a slow, steady breath.
Eevee jumped down from the bench, her tail wagging with barely contained excitement.
It was his turn.
He walked down the short corridor leading to the stage entrance. With every step, the sounds of the audience grew louder.
At the entrance, he paused for a brief moment.
Then he stepped into the light.
Hundreds of spectators filled the seats before him. Some leaned forward with curiosity, eager to see what the newcomer would bring. The three judges watched quietly from the front of the stage.
Gil walked to the center of the polished stage. The spotlight settled over him.
His gaze swept across the sea of faces before meeting the judges.
A quiet confidence settled in his chest.
This is it. We practiced for this.
Without hesitation, he reached for the Luxury Ball at his belt and threw it forward.
"Come on out, Eevee."
The ball opened with a soft, elegant glow. A swirl of warm light spilled forward, sparkling faintly at the edges. Eevee materialized in the center of the stage in a graceful landing. Her fluffy brown fur caught the spotlight. She shook herself once, ears perked, and looked up at the stage with bright, determined eyes…
"Veee…" she cried, full of energy.
Gil gave her a small nod. His voice stayed calm and clear as it carried across the hall.
Gil raised his hand.
"Eevee... Double Team!"
"Vee!"
Eevee's body blurred.
In the next instant, multiple copies of her appeared across the stage. They spread out in perfect sync, forming a wide circle around the center.
A ripple of surprise spread through the audience.
"Now, Protect!"
"Vee!"
Every Eevee moved at the same time, making it impossible to tell which one was real.
A translucent green barrier bloomed at the center of the stage. Its smooth surface shimmered beneath the lights like polished crystal.
"Now... Swift! Fill it!"
"Veeeee!"
A stream of brilliant golden stars shot into the barrier.
With nowhere to escape, the stars bounced from wall to wall, crossing over one another again and again. The entire barrier soon glowed with swirling golden light, becoming brighter with every passing second.
The audience watched in stunned silence, their eyes fixed on the dazzling display.
Gil waited.
Just one more second...
"Now... release it!"
"Vee!"
The shimmering barrier disappeared.
Freed at last, the trapped stars burst skyward in a brilliant column of golden light before exploding overhead into a breathtaking fountain of sparkling stars.
At that exact moment, every clone dissolved into wisps of light.
The real Eevee sprang out from the fading burst, spun gracefully through the falling golden sparkles, and landed lightly at the center of the stage.
"Vee~!"
She stood proudly for a moment, her fluffy tail swaying behind her as the last golden lights drifted around her.
Gil couldn't help but smile…
Warm pride filled his heart.
We really did it... Just like we planned.
For a heartbeat, the entire hall was silent.
Then thunderous applause erupted throughout the arena.
Gil stepped beside Eevee.
With practiced elegance, he placed one hand behind his back and gave the audience a graceful bow.
"Vee!"
Eevee dipped her head at the same time, perfectly matching his movement.
It was a greeting they had practiced together countless times, a simple gesture of respect that came as naturally to Gil as breathing.
The announcer's cheerful voice echoed through the hall once more.
"What a stunning performance from Gil and his Eevee! A truly creative appeal! Now then... it's time to see how our judges score this performance!"
The scores lit up on the large screen.
Mr. Contesta had awarded 9 points.
Mr. Sukizo had awarded 10 points.
Nurse Joy had awarded 10 points.
For a total of 29 out of 30.
The audience reacted with impressed murmurs and a fresh wave of applause.
Gil felt his chest tighten with quiet pride. 29 out of 30…
That's the best till now...
The judges then shared their thoughts.
Mr. Contesta spoke first, his tone calm and analytical.
"The Protect maze gave Swift a beautiful stage to work with. Your control over the bouncing stars was precise and creative. Well done."
Mr. Sukizo smiled.
"Remarkable! The golden stars filling the green barriers and then exploding into that sparkling fountain was remarkable! The whole hall loved it!"
Nurse Joy's smile was warm and sincere.
"Your Eevee looked happy and full of energy from beginning to end. She trusted you completely. That bond made the performance feel truly special."
With a final bow, Gil and Eevee left the stage together.
-><-
Note: A few things will be changing going forward.
I'll be making Gil internal thoughts less perverted. Though, he'll still have those kinds of thoughts, just less often.
Other than these changes, everything else will remain mostly the same…