c132: Short Film Competition, Ash Is Under A Lot Of Pressure!!
After Yoko wrapped up the interview, Ash successfully promoted his skill-based online store, Ash's Skills Miaomiaowu, to the live TV audience.
With the interview finished and the news crew from Saffron City TV Station gone, Ash led his Froakie nicknamed Bubble Frog out of camp, seeking a quiet space in the forested outskirts to train. The young Trainer's expression was calm but focused.
Although Froakie had unlocked Lick during their last battle, and even learned Rain Dance while filming today's short, both moves still lacked battle-ready precision. Ash knew that to stand out in the upcoming competition, skill proficiency was crucial.
The Pokémon short film project was currently undergoing post-production and editing, overseen by drone Rotom and the station's editing staff. The final screening and judging would take place at 6:00 PM sharp.
With a few precious hours of daylight left, Ash used the free time to help Bubble Frog increase its skill proficiency through focused drills dodging, targeting, and syncing the timing of Lick and Rain Dance.
[Pokémon Data: Bubble Frog (Froakie)]
Level: LV.14 (72/88 EXP)
Type: Water
Nature: Serious
Ability: Torrent (Hidden: Protean, Divine Blessing: Bonded Shift)
Base Stats:
HP: 41
Attack: 56
Defense: 40
Sp. Atk: 62
Sp. Def: 44
Speed: 71
Total: 314
Potential: S-Rank (Peerless)
> "Favored by the providence of the Kalos region, destined to play a key role during the foretold Great Destruction 07 that looms in Kalos's future."
Skill Proficiency:
Mastery: Pound (37/1000), Bubble (36/1000)
Basic Proficiency: Growl (23/500), Quick Attack (12/500), Water Sport (4/500), Water Pulse (16/500), Lick (9/500), Rain Dance (2/500)
As the sun dipped behind the ridgelines, dusk spilled over the Viridian Valley Camp. The burnt-orange sky cast long shadows over the tents and fields, while a soft gray mist made the quiet valley look dreamlike.
Though drone Rotom had assisted with overhead shots and Saffron TV staff had worked diligently on editing, the students had spent the entire day immersed in conceptualizing, directing, and filming their short Pokémon films each competing for one of the coveted "Summer Camp Excellent Student" awards.
Now, as night approached and the hour hand struck 6:00 PM, the students gathered in the central auditorium after dinner, stomachs full but nerves tight with anticipation.
"DADA..."
The auditorium lights flickered slightly as a hush fell over the crowd.
"Alright, everyone," Professor Oak began, his familiar, energetic voice echoing across the room as he clapped his hands. "Today's Pokémon short film shoot was a challenging but meaningful project. I know each of you put your heart into it."
"Now, it's time to appreciate each other's work!"
Students sat up straighter, eyes glued to the screen at the front. Some were anxious. Others were already whispering guesses about who might take the top prize.
"Let's begin with the first short film," Professor Oak said. "This one's titled 'The Clever Rattata', submitted by student Xiao Ling. Let's watch it together."
The lights dimmed completely, leaving only the glowing screen as the short film began to play.
At first, the title made Ash assume it was a standard entry maybe a Rattata doing simple tricks or showing off battle agility. But once the film started, he was immediately impressed.
Rather than rely on drone Rotom for sweeping, conventional shots, Xiao Ling had applied for and used a ThumbCam, one of the advanced motion-capture mini-cameras recently introduced in the Silph Co. TrainerTech Series.
She cleverly strapped it onto a Rattata's neck, providing an immersive, first-person perspective of the Normal-type as it scurried through tangled underbrush and tall grass, weaving between trees and evading danger.
The effect was stunning like being inside the Pokémon's eyes, feeling its tiny heartbeat as it darted through the wild.
The highlight came when a wild Ekans (Arbok in evolution) slithered into view. The Rattata's frantic escape was narrated not with music, but with a calm, voice-over log from its Trainer. She explained the danger of territorial predators and Rattata's instincts, tying it back to real-world Pokémon ecology something often discussed in Professor Oak's lectures.
Ash's eyes lit up with admiration. This wasn't just a film it was artful storytelling mixed with biology, and it blended technique, emotion, and realism all in one.
He leaned back in his seat, the pressure rising in his chest.
His own short film though not yet shown suddenly felt much more average.
And with that, the competition had begun.
Because the first-person perspective of Rattata captured using a ThumbCam offered viewers a strikingly fresh experience especially the tense sequence in which an Arbok initiated a relentless chase the short film stirred real concern among viewers for the fate of the tiny Normal-type Pokémon.
Given its swift and strategic escape from Arbok, the Rattata's Ability was most likely Run Away a trait that, according to the Pokémon Adventures manga and Pokédex entries, allows it to always flee from wild encounters regardless of its opponent's level or intimidation.
This combination of innovative cinematography, adrenaline-filled narrative pacing, and the Trainer's emotionally aware voice-over narration elevated the film's dramatic tone. At the same time, true to its title, The Clever Rattata effectively highlighted the rodent Pokémon's signature resourcefulness and survival instincts, attributes that Professor Oak has frequently referenced during camp lectures.
Interestingly, the student who directed this short film had not previously ranked within the top 10 on the "Student Achievement Score Ranking List," and as a result, Ash hadn't paid him much attention before now.
Initially, when Professor Oak introduced the entry, Ash remained indifferent expecting something unremarkable. But as the short film progressed, he found himself captivated. As the auditorium filled with appreciative applause, Ash's own clapping came from a place of genuine admiration.
It was the kind of short film that forced Ash to swallow his pride a reminder that even students who might not shine in traditional Trainer roles could still excel in other areas.
"Guess I was wrong to underestimate anyone. Sure, that student might not be gifted in battles or Pokémon command…"
"But in fields like storytelling and technology… he might be a true expert." Ash silently reflected, clapping alongside the crowd with newfound humility.
Just as Ash was lost in these thoughts, Professor Oak gave his remarks from the stage.
"A remarkably innovative and emotionally engaging short film," Professor Oak declared. "I give this entry a solid 9 out of 10."
"Whoa!"
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The auditorium erupted in applause once more. Yet, as the student filmmaker returned to his seat, he showed no visible joy. Instead, his brows furrowed slightly in discontent. Clearly, he had expected a perfect 10.
In his mind, he had executed everything flawlessly from the camera angles to the storyline and post-editing. But while some would have challenged the result, he refrained. After all, Professor Oak's judgment was highly respected, seen by many as impartial and rooted in deep experience.
Still, the student decided to bide his time. If a later short film receives a higher score and it's clearly not on par with mine, he thought, then I'll raise my concerns. But not before.
What truly rattled the rest of the students, however, was that the very first score given was already a 9. That set the bar exceedingly high. Gary Oak, sitting beside Ash, was among those visibly shaken.
"What's with that serious face?" Ash asked, noticing Gary's tense expression. "Are you worried your film isn't as good as his?"
"…Yeah," Gary admitted after a pause. "I used the ThumbCam too for a few shots in my film. I didn't expect anyone else to think of that. Now I'm worried the uniqueness of my approach might not stand out anymore."
Ash blinked, stunned. "Wait, you guys are all tech geniuses now? Wasn't Drone Rotom already fancy enough? And here I thought I was being creative…"
He gave a sheepish laugh before continuing, "My whole short film was filmed straight through with Drone Rotom no fancy edits, no special angles. I didn't even pause halfway. I thought it'd score high just from narrative and flow. But now, I'd be thrilled if I get even 8 points!"
Hearing Gary's concerns and seeing the level of competition rising, Ash felt the pressure mounting. The reality of the short film contest had finally hit him full-force. The bar wasn't just high it was sky-high.
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