Luvia left the courts with close to five hundred poké-dollars stuffed in the back pocket of her chinos, feeling now like the entire thing had gone by in a flash.

  After her mind slowed down with flashbacks from the battle and the reactions of the crowd, the first thing she did was grab the clump of money and offer it to Neela.

  Neela looked at the money and her sister with a wild frown. “What?”

  “Take it, sis. To help with the wetsuit…”

  Neela smiled greedily looking at the money, going as far as licking her lips, but when Luvia chuckled, she let the act drop and wrapped an arm around her younger sister’s neck. “Don’t worry about it, silly… that’s your first kibs, I can’t take your first kibs.” She put mocking emphasis on that new word, kibs.

  “Kibs,” Luvia echoed, finding the word silly almost.

  Some people at the courts had explained what it meant.

  Kibs was slang. The short word for kibble.

  It was old tradition to give someone you lost to in battle some money for their pokémon’s “kibble” snack. It didn’t need to be any significant amount – that depended on how much you felt you could part with. It was just a sign of sportsmanship.

  Apparently, making close to ?500 worth of kibs the way she did wasn’t something that happened often. The crowd that had started off by jeering at her had turned around by the end of the battle. They loved the way Mudkip fought and kept commenting on how it had jumped in the court fearlessly to face off against the more experienced Tyrogue.

  That was the reason so many of them had chipped in to show support for Luvia.

  “Come back later, yeah!” they had told the sisters as they left the courts, but neither of them had the intention of doing so.

  As they exited the street with the battle courts, a girl came up jogging from behind them with a rosy Hoppip floating right after her. The girl had chin-length hazel hair and large, lively brown eyes. She must have been around Luvia’s age.

  The Juneworth sisters glanced at her uncertainly.

  Not another challenge… Luvia hoped. If it was, that was just plain crazy. Mainlanders were mad.

  Mudkip was in her ball – Luvia had put her in before leaving the court. The little one had looked somewhat sleepy after the adrenaline of the battle had died down.

  “Hi!” the girl said slightly breathless.

  “Hi…” Neela replied.

  “I saw the battle,” she said, catching her breath. “Was that really your first one?”

  The sisters shared a glance and Luvia smiled.

  “With Mudkip, yes.”

  The girl smiled back. “Oh, but not your actual first battle, right?”

  Luvia wasn’t sure what she was getting at.

  “It’s her first time against a trainer,” Neela added, hint of smugness in her voice. “We don’t do these kinds of things back home.”

  The lively-eyed girl quickly glanced from sister to sister. “Wow, that was a really good fight then! That boy even has a gym badge, you know,” she said, the Hoppip lightly landing atop her head.

  “What?” Luvia cocked her head with disbelief. “Really?”

  “Yup, mhm. I thought for sure you’d have one too.”

  Luvia waved her hand, feeling almost embarrassed. Me? A gym badge? “No, no, no…”

  “Is there a lot of prize money for winning badges?” asked Neela, and Luvia poker-faced her, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

  The girl giggled. “The prize you get is decided by the gym leader. Some people get special pokéballs or technique machines, and others get a cash prize, but it’s not a huge amount.”

  “Pity,” said Neela, disappointed.

  Luvia was still thinking on the fact that she had faced someone with an actual gym badge. Sure, her father had already mentioned some kids her age would have a couple, but battling against one of them was the last thing she expected from this trip. This was a story to tell her friends back at the island.

  “Is there a gym in this city?” she asked, feeling a tinge of excitement.

  The girl adjusted the Hoppip perching atop her head. “No official ones, no. You have to go up to Mauville City for that. You planning to start your circuit? – cause I am!”

  Luvia gazed up the Hoppip, mildly fanning its two long leaves atop the girl’s head. Even without the leaves being the giveaway, Luvia knew it was a grass-type. She’d seen plenty of documentaries with them in. They liked nesting in fields and prairies during the hotter months of the year, usually before the heavy rains arrived.

  “Maybe you could go with her, Luvy!” Neela chimed.

  The two younger girls shared a look with one another and just as soon broke it off. They’d only just met. What the hell was Neela saying?

  “I wouldn’t mind if that’s what you were gonna do anyways,” came the girl’s response, and Luvia did a double take, staring, trying to figure out whether she was serious.

  “I’ve been wanting to start for a while now, but I just couldn’t work up the guts, you know,” the girl added.

  From that moment, Luvia decided she liked her.

  “I couldn’t go… I’m not really a trainer,” Luvia responded. “Don’t you need to be a trainer to get badges?”

  The girl looked even more surprised now. “Wait, you haven’t got your license yet?”

  “No...”

  “Why?”

  “It’s just not a big deal where we’re from.”

  Neela chuckled and brought down the sunglasses from her head over her eyes. “Clearcloud Island, baby.”

  “Clearcloud Island,” the girl repeated. “Is that close?”

  “Around three hours or so from here by cruiser,” said Neela. “Pretty far.”

  “Miiiheee…” sighed the Hoppip atop the girl’s head. It stretched its long pair of leaves and relaxed again. The girl raised her hand to give her a light pat.

  “So, I guess you’re not sticking around then… That’s sad. I kinda wanted to see your Mudkip battle again. Salia and I really liked the show.”

  Luvia quickly assumed that by Salia, she was referring to Hoppip. She stuck out her hand to the friendly girl.

  “Thanks, that’s sweet. What’s your name?”

  The girl happily took her hand. “Andrea – you’re Loovi-ee…?” She trailed off at the end, causing Neela to chuckle.

  “She’s already calling you by your nickname. Wholesome!”

  “Shut up, Neela.” Luvia shook the girl’s hand and returned the smile.

  “I’m sorry if its wrong!” the girl fretted. “I just heard you say it back at the court, but not very clear.”

  “I’m Luvi-ah.”

  “Luvia. Got it.”

  “Awww, do you mind if I take a photo?”

  Luvia frowned and whinged. “Neela, come on, really?”

  “Shut up, silly, you’ll be thanking me for these when you’re Nana’s age.”

  For god’s sake…

  “I don’t mind!” said Andrea, adjusting Hoppip for the shot, already smiling wide.

  Luvia didn’t even bother posing. She glared sideways at the camera, holding back a smile *snap* until Neela made her crack. *snap*

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “How long are you staying?” Andrea said before they parted ways.

  Luvia made a sad face at her, feeling genuine regret that they wouldn’t be staying longer in the city. “We’re going to a showcase tonight and leave tomorrow morning…”

  At that, Andrea’s eyes perked up. “Showcase? The one at Contest Hall???”

  “Yes!” Neela answered first.

  “You know about it?” Luvia said right after.

  Hoppip’s leaves rustled as Andrea’s gawped in surprise. “Of course – I’m going to it!”

  Neela cheered happily. “Wholesome!”

  The sisters arrived back at the apartment close to 5pm and the first thing Neela did was announce Luvia’s “victory” over a badge-holding mainland boy.

  “I didn’t win!” Luvia whined. Technically, she had forfeited the match the moment she stepped in and grabbed Mudkip, and though the Tyrogue looked especially dizzy after the last splashing impact, it was nowhere near fainting according to some members of the crowd.

  Luvia had gotten lucky the battle ended the way it did, and she knew it.

  “Show them the money, then!” Neela insisted, forcing the clumps of money from her pockets. “Who gets kibs for losing?”

  Nana and their mother chortled and cheered, but their father was positively ecstatic.

  “Luvy, that’s great!” He picked her up from the armpits and groaned as he lifted her up and gave her a little spin around. “You’re getting heavy!”

  “Well done, girlie,” said Nana, rubbing Luvia’s back when her father set her back down. “You put these mainlanders in their place.”

  “Nana! Don’t encourage them like this,” their mother chided. “Not everything has to be a rivalry.”

  “It does, Mom!” Neela refuted. “Do you know how cocky that boy was before the battle started?”

  Luvia cracked a smile then, surprised her sister had noticed that from where she had been in the crowd.

  “Benn…” Their mother looked to Mr. Juneworth for a little support.

  …

  “Sara… the mainland must absolutely be crushed and conquered!” roared Mr. Juneworth.

  Nana and Neela cheered. Luvia snorted with laughter.

  “For Clearcloud!” he whooped.

  “For Clearcloud!” all but a reproachful Mrs. Juneworth repeated.

  The evening had finally come.

  Luvia was in her room, sitting on her queen-sized bed with Mudkip.

  “Mida. Mee-duh – got it?”

  “Maadh…”

  She giggled and rubbed Mida’s back. “You don’t like it?”

  The Mudkip did not reply. Her eyes got droopy when Luvia rubbed the small of her little plump back.

  “Come on, Mudkip… say ‘meehd’ if you agree… Mida?”

  Luvia pulled her hand away and leaned her face right into Mudkip’s.

  “Mida.”

  …

  “Meehd…”

  “Yay!” Luvia beamed happily. “Mida!”

  Slateport at night was much cooler than it was during the day but it was still comfortably warm. That didn’t stop Luvia from nicking one of her sister’s sweaters. She was out by the small veranda of the apartment overlooking one of the city’s busy streets with Mida sat on a chair beside her. Tall lamps lit the city warmly, and the music that played through the streets was less upbeat and more of the jazzy winddown sort. She barely remembered such details from the last time she was in the mainland.

  “I love the city,” she muttered.

  “Geehd!” said Mida.

  “You like it too, don’t you… Do you think we could…” she trailed off, breathed in the glowing view, and looked at Mudkip, sat on a chair next to the veranda railing.

  She squatted beside the little one. “Do you think we could do it? Go on a journey, I mean? Travel alone, just you and I… seeing all sorts of places?”

  “Maadh!” Mida squeaked.

  She’s strong, Luvia thought. But could we really?

  Her thoughts went to the girl from the courts, Andrea. The pleasant Hoppip perched on her head. The girl’s intention to go on her journey, even though she admitted not having the guts to.

  That’s what had made Luvia like her. That simple act of admittance had sparked something in Luvia. Made her realize that leaving home and travelling with your pokémon was something even mainlanders found daunting. There were people out here who were just as inexperienced as her, and if they still went ahead and did it, then why couldn’t she?

  She’d already faced a badge-holder, won a small crowd over and filled her pocket with some money. All in the space of minutes.

  In the life of a trainer, anything could happen, and that was exciting.

  Could she handle it? She wouldn't know unless she tried, wouldn't she.

  “God, I can’t believe it!” Neela gushed. “I love you, Dad.”

  The Juneworths were in the tram bound for the city’s illustrious Contest Hall. Besides Luvia, who was comfortable enough in the clothes she had, the rest of them had gotten all dressed up for the occasion. Even Nana had done her hair up, even though the look on her face as the tram glided slowly through the streets was one of displeasure. She had both hands laced over her tummy and leaned back on the backrest with her eyes closed, waiting for the ride to end. Luvia smiled and nudged at her.

  “You alright, Nana?”

  The old woman opened an eye. “I’m alright, girlie, don’t pay it any mind.”

  “Don’t start puking, Nana, please,” Neela said. “I will take a photo.”

  A laugh went around them as Nana’s eyes snapped open and she mean-mugged her eldest granddaughter.

  “Don’t worry, Nana,” Luvia added. “Mida can wash it all off with Water Gun.”

  Another laugh, followed by her mother repeating the name. “Mida? That’s the name you picked?”

  Luvia nodded with satisfaction. “Yesss.”

  “Ah, after the goddess?” asked her father.

  Another nod.

  “After meeehd!” Neela bleated like a Mareep. “Meeeeeehd! – don’t lie, Luvy!”

  Luvia put both hands to her face and shook with laughter.

  “I’m right!” Neela cried out in a hushed voice.

  “No! It’s after the goddess!”

  “A fine name,” Nana assured.

  “It’s cute,” agreed her mother.

  “Perfect,” nodded her father. “You’ve bonded with her in record time, Luvy. I thought it would take both of you much longer.”

  “Meeeeehd!” Neela bleated again.

  Nana reached out and slapped her on the shoulder.

  The Contest Hall. Luvia had her mouth open the entire time. The path leading up to it was wide enough for a small cruise ship to squeeze through, with tall pines on either side and bronze lampposts that looked more like huge trophies that had been repurposed into streetlights. It was only twenty minutes until the show officially began, so only a few people were left queuing at the entrance of the stadium-sized venue. It looked like a massive longhouse with a similar pyramid roof that the Pokémon Center had, only wider and less raised. A huge, decorative pokéball rested on its peak, tilted and lit with pretty neon highlights. Luvia was sure that if that thing fell from up there, it would leave a crater.

  Bincy and Ziggy and Mida were all still in their pokéballs. The family had agreed to find their seats and settle in before letting them out.

  Luvia found herself gazing around for a hazel-haired girl and her Hoppip. Meeting her again and getting to ask some questions was something she was looking forward to. She wanted to know exactly how Andrea planned to start her journey. Had she thought it all through? Was she taking only Hoppip with her? What about the money – where would she sleep, what would she eat? Could trainers really just get by on job-board pay checks and kibs?

  So many questions.

  There were several wide doorways into the Contest Hall, all right next to each other, but only one of them had been opened for the night. This wasn’t an actual contest event, after all, just a local showcase. Mr. Juneworth had told them that events like this were normally for up-and-coming coordinators who needed to get used to performing in front of real crowds.

  When the family made its way to the gate clerks, Mr. Juneworth presented the tickets and each of them was given a pamphlet with details and trivia about the venue. Luvia folded it and slid it in her pocket, way too excited for any reading.

  She could already hear the murmuring bustle of the crowd from beyond the reception’s landing floor. Like the beachside streets, there were several stalls set up for drinks, food, and Slateport Contest Hall branded items like shirts and hats and scarves and other little knick-knacks.

  They made their way to the arena and saw that half of it had been blocked off by a huge metal pipe rig that had enormous burgundy curtains hanging from it. They blocked the entire view of the other half of the arena. The lights of the venue had also been kept off on that side of the hall.

  Luvia’s heart was already beating hard as she glanced across the brown, chalky floor of the arena at several flamboyantly dressed people. They were in skin hugging pants and colorful jackets adorned with sparkly jewels and shoulder capes, and sporting funny pointed hats like Poletide elves.

  They climbed the steps into the seating area, finding plenty of free spaces to occupy, and ended up seating several rows up, closer to one edge of the seating space but with near perfect view of the arena floor.

  Neela was squealing excitedly.

  The performers, both girls and boys, were a few dozen yard away, smiling and chatting amongst themselves, looking at ease in front of the bustling crowd of what Luvia was sure was at least two or three thousand. Oddly enough, she saw no pokémon with them, which made her even more curious about what kind of show it’d be.

  Maybe they’ll have a Ludicolo… That would be fun!

  Ludicolo was Hoenn’s unofficial festive mascot. They could dance on cue to any beat. Any beat. Someway, somehow, if it had a rhythm, a Ludicolo would know how exactly how to dance to it.

  A Ludicolo was a guaranteed blast.

  Luvia sat at the edge of the group with Nana on her left and several empty seats to her right. Her father leaned in from the other end of the group and called out for her.

  “Luvy!” he said. “You can bring her out now!”

  Luvia took a second to realize, but then she smiled and went straight into the pocket with Mudkip’s ball.

  “But keep her on you when the show starts!”

  Bincy and Ziggy flashed out of their balls then, Bincy hopping onto her mother’s lap and Ziggy going on a little sniffing trip under their seats.

  Luvia let Mida out and the little one hopped up to the seat beside her.

  “Mida,” Luvia said, picking the little one up and plopping her on her lap. “Mida, Mida, Mida.”

  “Meehd!”

  “Yesss!” She hugged the Mudkip tight. “No water guns, alright? And no darting off to fight anyone!”

  “Maahd!”

  “I’m not mad, you’re mad! Just listen to me, okay?”

  “Meehd!”

  Luvia gave her a rub. “Good!”

  Some ten minutes later, the lights dimmed and the crowd quickly quietened down.

  “It’s starting!” Neela whispered.

  A few cries of pokémon in the crowds became the only noises.

  The half-arena remained well lit as one of the long curtains pulled to the side and a man in a glossy purple suit walked out to face the crowd. He had slicked back blonde hair and a small microphone barely visible within his hand.

  He tapped it, testing the speakers, which thudded loud and clear.

  “Ladies and gentlemen… the Slateport City Contest Hall welcomes you! I’m your host for the night, Derian Folde.”

  His voice had a deep and confident tone to it, like he’d done this all his life.

  “I trust we are all ready for a night to remember!” He held out the mic toward the crowd, who cheered in response.

  Even Luvia added her voice to the choir.

  “Tonight, we have something special for you – don’t let appearances fool you. I know, I know… ‘But, Derian, Constest Hall seats 30,000 people, so why are there only a fraction of that many here tonight?’ – that’s what you’re thinking, am I right?”

  He waited for a few cheers from the crowd before continuing.

  “When I tell you that the budding coordinators present here tonight are top-shelf stuff, I am not exaggerating in the least. I guarantee that you’ll be seeing more of them on your own televisions in the near future. They are just that good. The cherry on top is that they’re all from your very own Slateport City! A round of applause please!”

  Luvia heart kept hammering in her chest. She could hardly wait a second longer.

  “Start the show!” Neela screamed as the crowd clapped and cheered.

  Luvia blurted with laughter and copied her. “Start the show!”

  Nana slapped both of them on the arm, but even she was chuckling.

  “To start things off, we have the wonderful Erissa!” the host announced. “For those of you who don’t know, this girl just turned sixteen, but she moves and thinks with the grace of a veteran. If you have any complaint about her, I really don’t know what to tell you, folks – you are either blind or became blind after watching her stellar performance!”

  A wave of laughter went through the crowd, and the host lifted one hand up high and swung it down toward the curtains.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s welcome Erissa!”