"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for waiting!"
"The Pokémon Contest Newcomer Division officially begins now!"
"I am your host, Ana. Hello everyone!"
She stood atop a floating Magneton, her voice carried clearly throughout the entire venue.
The surrounding audience responded with thunderous cheers. They waved glow signs printed with different names and slogans, while others held up plush dolls of their favorite Pokémon.
Pokémon Contests originated in the Hoenn region, and Lilycove City was one of the main venues. Its immense popularity was only natural.
"It seems everyone is very excited." Ana laughed lightly before moving straight to the main event. "Without further delay, the Pokémon Contest officially begins!"
"First, let us welcome today's three judges." The host introduced them one by one. "One of the founders of Pokemon Contest and Sootopolis Gym Leader, Mr. Juan, the president of the Pokémon Fan Club Mr. Sukizo, and Nurse Joy from our Lilycove City Pokémon Center herself!"
The three judges waved to the crowd, drawing another wave of cheers. Each of them enjoyed considerable popularity.
"This contest will be scored by our three judges. I hope all contestants can earn high marks!"
After finishing the introductions swiftly, the host announced the start of the performances.
The first contestant was a young boy holding a Poochyena. Both he and his Pokémon were brimming with confidence, enthusiastically waving at the audience.
Unfortunately, their performance was not particularly impressive. It consisted only of Poochyena repeatedly using Howl, letting out simple "awoo, awoo" cries.
They received the minimum nine points and left the stage disappointed, completing what could only be described as a one round tour.
After more than a dozen contestants, not a single total score exceeded fifteen points.
In the waiting room, Silas and Cinccino grew nervous at the sight.
"So strict!"
"Cin~!" (I am scared!)
Silas rubbed the little one's forehead gently and rubbed its soft belly. "Being scared will not help. After a dozen more contestants, it will be our turn."
Among the contestants ahead of them, one performance caught Silas's attention.
A young girl stepped onto the stage holding a cotton like Pokémon in her arms. Her nervous posture clearly marked her as a newcomer.
Her performance was simple, combining Feather Dance with Mist. Because this was the Newcomer Division, she earned fairly good scores from the three judges.
"The Swablu looks very healthy. It seems to enjoy performing," Nurse Joy commented.
"The use of moves was good. It could be even more dazzling," Juan remarked.
"I like it very much, remarkable." Mr. Sukizo said in his usual manner.
As a complete beginner performing for the first time, Lisa had already done quite well, surpassing the vast majority of contestants.
The final scores were seven, six, and eight, totaling twenty one points.
"Twenty one points! Cotton, we did it!"
"Bluu~!"
In a regular rank contest, this score would not even place, but among newcomers it was currently the highest score and carried a strong chance of winning.
For a rookie Coordinator to have the possibility of winning a championship in their debut was truly wonderful.
Back in the waiting room, after watching the next few performances, Lisa's confidence grew even stronger.
"Blu!" Swablu pecked at her head to remind her of something.
Lisa looked up at the broadcast screen. With just one glance, she was completely captivated by the Pokémon standing beside the next contestant.
She could not take her eyes off it.
"It is too, too cute!"
She was not the only one captivated. The three judges and the audience shared the same thought.
In terms of cuteness alone, the scarf Pokémon before them had reached an extreme. Everyone began anticipating the upcoming performance even more.
"It is about to start." Silas reminded softly, reaching out to scratch Cinccino gently.
The little one hugged his finger tightly for a moment before lightly hopping down along his arm to the center of the stage.
"Cin~!" (I am ready, Silas!)
"Just follow our practice. Do not be too nervous."
Under Silas's direction, Cinccino casually flicked its fluffy tail, sending sparkling stars from Swift high into the air above the stage.
Though the movement appeared effortless, the precision in its control was far beyond that of an ordinary Pokémon.
Gym Leader Juan, Mr. Sukizo, and Nurse Joy all straightened their expressions. They began evaluating it according to the proper standards of a Pokémon Contest.
When the Swift stars reached their peak, they began descending along their predetermined arcs.
Cinccino glanced back at Silas and met his encouraging gaze.
"Cin!"
The little one clenched its tiny fists and gathered its emotions.
"Cin~ Ccinooo~!"
Its singing voice echoed across the stage. The sound waves materialized into visible ripples that collided with the falling Swift stars, shattering them into countless fragments. The shattered stars formed a glowing halo as they cascaded down like a luminous waterfall.
Standing at the center, Cinccino sang boldly. Its small body swayed gently with the melody. The fur on its tail caught the sparkling fragments of light, making it appear as if it wore a radiant glowing cape. The sight was both breathtaking and irresistibly adorable.
The audience erupted instantly. The earlier boredom vanished completely. They could now clearly feel the difference between a Pokémon Contest and a simple battle.
The Host Ana exclaimed in amazement, "Incredible! This is the perfect fusion of Swift and Echoed Voice!"
The crowd responded with enthusiastic applause. Cinccino's little face flushed with excitement as it waved its tiny paws at everyone.
It even tossed the star accessories attached to its body toward the audience, turning the contest venue into what felt like its very own concert.
All of its initial nervousness disappeared without a trace.
Soon, it was time for the judges' scoring.
Mr. Sukizo, as usual, simply declared, "Remarkable, very remarkable!" and said no more.
Nurse Joy focused primarily on Cinccino's posture and health, praising how perfect the little one appeared.
Juan evaluated from a Coordinator's perspective, his tone appreciative. "From Swift to Echoed Voice, Cinccino controlled each move exceptionally well. If only…"
The performance was wonderful, though not entirely without flaws.
The total score of twenty eight points reflected that.
Such a score firmly secured the championship in the Newcomer Division and would even rank among the top positions in a regular rank contest. Both trainer and Pokémon were very satisfied.
Soon it was time for the award ceremony. Juan personally handed Silas a ribbon medal inlaid with a blue gemstone. Silas gently pinned it to Cinccino's chest.
Cinccino looked down at the ribbon, then up at Silas, its eyes filled with pride.
After the ceremony, as they stepped down from the stage, Lisa ran over.
"Mr. Silas, Cinccino, congratulations on winning the championship!" she said with a bright smile.
Swablu chirped cheerfully as well.
"You too. Your performance was excellent. You led by a clear margin."
Receiving praise, the rookie Lisa's cheeks turned slightly red. Gathering her courage, she asked, "Mr. Silas, will you continue participating in Pokémon Contests in the future?"
"As for me…" Silas pointed at Cinccino, who was busy showing off its ribbon to Swablu. "If Cinccino wants to continue, I am willing to accompany it."
"I see. I hope we can compete on the same stage again someday."
"If there is an opportunity, I am sure we will."
Holding the show off loving Cinccino in his arms as it carefully polished its ribbon medal, Silas waved goodbye to Lisa and made his way outside Lilycove City, where he released Tropius.
(End of Chapter)