The air in the Floaroma Town Contest Hall was electric, vibrating with the cheers of thousands. The scent of a million blooming flowers seemed to heighten the stakes. This wasn't just a friendly skirmish; this was the final stage—the moment where the Floaroma Ribbon would find its owner.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over!" Marian's voice soared over the crowd, her energy infectious. "Through sweat, glitter, and pure determination, our two finalists have emerged. Who will claim the honor of the Floaroma Ribbon and take one step closer to the Grand Festival?"
I stood at the edge of the tunnel, feeling the cool fabric of my blue Aura suit. It was a custom-made outfit that felt like a second skin, designed to reflect the calm but powerful energy I shared with my team. Sylveon was at my side, her ribbons snapping with focus.
"First, let's welcome a traveler who has crossed the seas from the Hoenn region, bringing with him the precision of a veteran—Mulan!"
The boy I'd seen defeat Aoko walked out. He looked composed, holding his Poké Ball with the steady hand of someone who had been on this stage many times before.
"And his opponent, a researcher whose debut performance left us starstruck—Julian of Sandgem Town!"
I stepped into the light. The crowd's roar was like a physical wave. I caught a glimpse of Aoko in the front row; she gave me a fierce thumbs-up, her expression saying you better not lose.
"Five minutes on the clock! Coordinators, let the finale begin!"
"Sylveon, the stage is yours!" I tossed the ball.
Sylveon appeared with a graceful spin, her ribbons tracing glowing arcs in the air. "Fly-ah!"
"Lairon, take the lead!" Mulan countered.
With a heavy thud, a metallic, quadruped Pokémon appeared. Lairon looked like a living tank, its steel-and-rock armor gleaming under the spotlights. Miexing was no fool—he knew I favored Fairy moves, and Lairon's Steel typing gave it a massive defensive advantage.
"Lairon, start with Iron Head!"
Lairon's forehead glowed with a cold, silvery light. It lowered its center of gravity and charged across the stage like a runaway freight train. The sheer weight of the Pokémon caused the floor to vibrate.
"Sylveon, show them your dance steps! Dodge!"
Sylveon didn't just jump; she pirouetted. As Lairon thundered toward her, she used the rhythm of the charge to time her leap, narrowly spinning over the metallic beast. Because the dodge was so fluid and showcased her elegance, Miexing's point bar took the first hit.
"Again! Don't let her breathe!" Mulan shouted.
Lairon skidded to a halt, sparks flying from its claws, and charged again. And again. Each time, Sylveon danced away, her ribbons trailing like silken banners. But I could see Miexing's plan. He wasn't just attacking; he was gauging our speed.
"Now! Rock Tomb!"
Lairon slammed its front hooves down. Massive jagged boulders erupted from the stage floor, surrounding Sylveon. They didn't just aim to hit her; they formed a labyrinth, a "rock forest" that cut off her escape routes. A few shards clipped Sylveon's ribbons, and our points began to drop.
"Trapped! Use Iron Head at full power!"
Lairon charged into the maze of rocks. With the path narrowed, Sylveon had nowhere to leap.
"Sylveon, don't run! Use your ribbons!" I called out. "Wrap the leg and pivot!"
As Lairon's glowing head bore down on her, Sylveon lashed out with two of her ribbons. They snagged Lairon's front left leg like a lasso. Using the momentum of Lairon's own charge, Sylveon vaulted into the air, swinging herself around the heavy Pokémon in a perfect semicircle. She landed softly right behind Lairon's blind spot.
"Beautiful reversal!" Marian screamed. "She used the opponent's momentum for a perfect pivot!"
"Now, Mystical Fire!"
Sylveon didn't hesitate. She unleashed a swirling vortex of purple-hot flames directly into Lairon's vulnerable back.
"Dodge it!" Mulan yelled, but Lairon was too heavy to turn in time.
The explosion was massive. Smoke filled the rock forest. When it cleared, Lairon was staggering, its armor scorched. Mulan's points were plummeting, but the timer still had two minutes left.
"Lairon, use Rock Tomb to shield yourself!"
Lairon roared, raising a wall of stone just as Sylveon fired a second Mystical Fire. The flames shattered the rocks, but the impact was softened. It was a classic Contest stall tactic.
"We don't have time for a stalemate, Sylveon! Grab him!"
Sylveon darted through the dust. Before Lairon could hide behind another pillar, her ribbons snaked through the air, wrapping around its hind leg.
"Now, the finisher! Mystical Fire at point-blank range!"
Sylveon pulled herself toward the metallic Pokémon, her ribbons acting like a winch. She came face-to-face with the armored beast and exhaled a concentrated blast of ethereal flames.
Lairon's eyes rolled back as the fire overwhelmed its remaining stamina. It collapsed onto the stage, sending up a final cloud of dust.
BEEP!
The timer stopped. Mulan's avatar on the screen was crossed out with a giant red 'X'.
"It's over! Lairon is unable to battle! The winner of the Floaroma Contest is Julian!"
The arena turned into a sea of noise. I felt like I was floating. Sylveon jumped into my arms, her ribbons wrapping around my neck in a tight, furry hug. I walked over to Mulan, who was already tending to his Lairon.
"That ribbon work was incredible," he said, shaking my hand. "I thought I had you boxed in, but you turned my own weight against me. Good luck at the Grand Festival."
"Thanks. You and Lairon were a literal wall. It took everything we had to break through," I replied.
The Ceremony
The three judges stood on the podium. Mr. Contesta held a small, velvet-lined box containing a shimmering, emerald-green ribbon.
"Julian," Mr. Contesta said, his voice warm. "This is your second ribbon, but your first with Sylveon. You've shown that you can adapt your style—from the tactical grace of Floette to the raw, spirited power of Sylveon. I look forward to seeing how you continue to evolve."
"I like it!" Mr. Sukizo added, giving a thumbs-up.
Nurse Joy handed me a bouquet of Floaroma's finest flowers. "The way you used those ribbons for both defense and offense was a masterclass in Pokémon biology. Truly well done."
I took the Floaroma Ribbon, holding it high. Sylveon posed beside me, her ribbons forming a heart shape. The camera flashes were blinding, but I didn't mind. We had done it.
That night, the hotel room was quiet, save for the soft snoring of Floette and Togepi. I sat by the window, the Floaroma Ribbon resting on the table next to my Mine Badge. I looked at the photo the official photographer had given me.
In it, I was wearing the blue suit, looking much more confident than I felt. Sylveon was leaning against me, our hands—and ribbons—together holding the green ribbon.
I flipped it over and uncapped my pen.
Julian and Sylveon — Floaroma Town.
Our second ribbon! This was Sylveon's debut, and she absolutely crushed it. We ended up relying on some high-intensity battling moves, which turned the final into something that felt more like a Gym match than a pageant, but hey, it worked! ┓( ´ ∀ ` )┏
The synergy between the ribbons and Mystical Fire is something I want to explore more. Also, Miexing was a great opponent—he really made us think on our feet.
Next stop: Eterna City. It's Togepi's turn to step up his training. I wonder if he's ready for the spotlight? ヾ(^∀^)ﾉ
Alliance Calendar Year 243, May 8th — Floaroma Town Contest Hall.
I tucked the photo into my album. Two badges, two ribbons. The balance was perfect. I looked over at the sleeping Togepi. The little guy had a lot of work to do if he wanted to match his big sisters, but seeing the look in his eyes during the match, I had a feeling he was more than ready to try.