Lakeside Resort—
The sacred venue of this year's Grand Festival in the Sinnoh Region!
Nestled beside a serene bay and backed by layers of lush green mountains, it was a stunning, prosperous retreat under a canvas of blue skies and drifting clouds.
Though called a "village," Lakeside Resort was far from ordinary. It opened only for the most prestigious events in Sinnoh. The rest of the year? Completely off-limits.
And now, just three days before the Grand Festival was set to begin, over a hundred Coordinators who had earned the right to compete—by collecting five Ribbon Badges across the region—had already begun arriving.
To help the participants unwind before the competition, the Pokémon Association was hosting a Welcome Banquet that day. Everything—absolutely everything—was free for registered Coordinators. Gourmet meals, spa treatments, private rest areas… all complimentary.
Spectators? Even they enjoyed half-price discounts across the entire resort. All of it was designed to elevate the prestige and reach of the Grand Festival.
Ash and his companions arrived bright and early.
"Yo! Dawn, you're a little late this time!"
That voice—Kenny.
"Ah! Kenny, you're quick as always. But no worries, we're here now. I wonder if Zoey's arrived yet…"
Just as Dawn finished scanning the area, a familiar voice rang out:
"Well, well, look who it is. The lucky girl. Looking for me, are you?"
Ursula had arrived—Peach-haired and smug as ever.
After losing to Dawn last time, Ursula had convinced herself it was just bad luck. Not a lack of skill, not a flawed strategy—just pure, unfortunate chance. So now, seeing Dawn again, she immediately resumed her taunts.
Dawn, however, had spent plenty of time around Ash by now. She'd absorbed a little of his cool composure. Her response?
Complete and utter silence.
And it worked. Ursula's smirk twitched, then vanished into an annoyed glare. She stormed off, fuming, determined to make Dawn pay at the Grand Festival.
Shortly after, the group found Zoey—and someone else too.
A familiar face.
The poetic, soft-spoken bard: Nando.
"Ah, friends!" Nando greeted them warmly. "Ash, Dawn, Anabel… and you must be Zoey. It's truly a pleasure. I've experienced the passion of Gym Battles and the elegance of Pokémon Contests. And now, to witness this Grand Festival with all of you—it is an honor. I hope we may learn much from one another."
Nando's gentlemanly tone was timeless, no matter the region.
After mingling at the banquet for a while, the group didn't linger too long. There were too many unfamiliar faces. Ash suggested they rent out a private guesthouse in the village for the next three days.
Kenny stared at Ash, stunned. No hesitation, no second thought—Ash booked the entire guesthouse like it was pocket change.
Even though everything was half-price, Lakeside Resort was a high-end place. The so-called "guesthouse" was a three-story mansion.
The first floor: a dining area with private chefs.
The second: a recreation zone.
The third: luxurious bedrooms.
Outside? A sprawling courtyard with two full-sized battlefields, plus a facility for Pokémon medical treatment—not as advanced as a Pokémon Center, but perfect for Contest-related healing.
Renting it for three days cost at least 300,000 Poké Coins—even at a discount.
But to Ash? That was nothing.
To Kenny? It was a glaring reminder of how far apart they were financially—and maybe in strength, too.
Ash simply wanted a comfortable, stress-free environment to rest, train, and prepare. No waiting in lines. No sharing space with strangers.
For two full days, Dawn poured her heart into her preparation, pulling Anabel in to help as a mentor and training partner.
She crafted combo performances:
Cyndaquil and Buneary practiced synchronized attacks with flame spirals and twirls.
Mamoswine and Pachirisu experimented with snowy mist effects and electric bursts.
Anabel played the role of coach and big sister, giving Dawn support and tactical advice.
And finally—after days of excitement, arrivals, and rehearsals—the long-awaited Grand Festival officially began.
It was 10 AM.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Lakeside Resort! I'm your host, the ever-familiar Marian! Today is a momentous day—the kickoff to Sinnoh's Grand Festival! Allow me to introduce this year's panel of judges!"
The main venue was packed. People flooded in from all over the region. The cheers—deafening.
The judges included:
Mr. Contesta, the ever-strict head judge.
Mr. Sukizo, known for his signature line, "Remarkable!"
And of course, Nurse Joy—not one, but four of them!
Each Joy hailed from different regions. One, in particular, represented Slateport City—the birthplace of Pokémon Contests in Hoenn.
"And now," Marian continued, "let's welcome two very special guest judges—top Coordinators who bring prestige and flair to this competition!"
"First, we have Fantina, the Hearthome Gym Leader and a top Coordinator in her own right! And second, all the way from Hoenn… the one and only… Wallace, Champion of the Hoenn League and Contest Master!"
Wait. Wallace?
Ash blinked in surprise. This wasn't part of the original storyline. Wallace wasn't supposed to be here… Something had changed.
Fantina and Wallace took the stage in a grand entrance. The audience exploded in applause.
This year's Grand Festival featured three performance stages, with contestants rotating through each.
Each judging panel was composed of one Nurse Joy paired with one major judge—Wallace, Fantina, Contesta, or Sukizo—ensuring fair and diverse scoring across the board.
And with Marian's final shout:
"Let the Grand Festival… BEGIN!"
The first contestant strode confidently onto the stage.
And thus, the stage was set. An event that would see appearances from:
Jessilina (a.k.a. Jessie in disguise),
Kenny,
Dawn,
Zoey,
Ursula,
Nando,
...and more.
The Sinnoh Grand Festival had officially begun!
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