Time flowed quietly, and six full days slipped by in the blink of an eye, leaving not even the faintest trace behind.
Early morning on the day of the competition—8:53 a.m.
The air in Rustboro City carried an unmistakable sense of restlessness.
Inside his hotel room, Theo stood before the mirror, carefully adjusting his appearance.
The reflection staring back at him, was of a refined, striking young man, practically unrecognizable compared to his usual self.
His short, mint-green hair was fluffy and naturally curled, with a few strands falling lightly across his forehead. Those locks subtly emphasized the clarity in his round, amethyst-like eyes.
He wore a white suit jacket over a dark vest decorated with gilded buttons. The tips of a lake-green dress shirt peeked from beneath the collar, and with a patterned tie to complete the ensemble, he looked every bit like an elegant young nobleman.
This was the outfit Theo had specifically chosen for his debut in his first Pokémon Contest.
Of course, it was rented—two thousand pokédollars for a single day. The price alone made Theo's heart ache.
But he knew such preparation was necessary.
In every meeting, the first impression was crucial. And that old image of him carrying a fish tank on his back definitely did not suit the glamorous world of contests.
For his debut on the Pokémon Contest stage, he was determined to leave the most unforgettable mark possible on the audience.
Tyrunt and Feebas were also different from usual today. Neither followed him outside the Poké Balls; instead, both waited quietly inside.
For their first ever contest appearance, Theo and Feebas had practiced repeatedly to refine every detail.
Today was the time to showcase all of it.
Unlike Gym battles, the Contest followed an entirely different structure, divided into three core stages: two rounds of judging, followed by the final Contest Battle. Victory depended not solely on defeating opponents, but on overall performance.
First Round – The Appeal Stage.
Trainers partnered with one Pokémon to perform a showcase. This could involve visual displays, dance, costumes, or skill demonstrations. Trainers might command their Pokémon to use moves in artistic ways, or incorporate props like frisbees for interactive routines. Judges scored based on the beauty of the moves and the harmony between trainer and Pokémon. Passing scores advanced to the next round.
Second Round – The Advanced Performance Stage.
Trainers could switch to a different Pokémon. This round emphasized skill combinations, showcasing creativity and elegance in move coordination. Only high scorers progressed to the final stage.
Final Stage – The Contest Battle.
This was a knockout-style battle, limited to five minutes. Contestants had to balance combat effectiveness with aesthetic appeal. Points were displayed live: mistakes, being overwhelmed by an opponent's dazzling move, or having one's own move turned against them would all deduct points.
Most importantly, even if a contestant defeated their opponent in battle, they could still lose if the opponent's cumulative scores from the first two rounds were higher.
This was the essence of the Contest—a competition for Coordinators, trainers who blended battle with artistry.
…
Before the mirror, Theo tightened the knot of his tie one last time. He walked over to the window and pushed it open.
From here, he could see the streets, now significantly more crowded than usual, with trainers moving in groups.
Looking at the unusually lively scene, his eyes flashed with understanding and he murmured softly:
"As expected… a lot of people came."
The announcement that Wallace would serve as a special judge had spread like a boulder cast into a lake, sending shockwaves throughout the Coordinator community of the entire Hoenn region.
After all, Wallace Waterford, the former Sootopolis City Gym Leader, Champion of Hoenn, and creator of the legendary contest circuit known as the "Wallace Cup," was the idol of every aspiring Coordinator.
To anyone aspiring to become a Coordinator, he was the most respected and admired existence.
It was Wallace who brought the Coordinator profession into the public eye—those who differed from traditional battlers and focused instead on demonstrating beauty and charm through combination moves and visual performance.
He made the image of Coordinators deeply rooted in the hearts of all.
Such a legendary person almost never appeared at small, local events.
He usually only judged the once-a-year grand festival in Slateport.
For him to personally attend a smaller venue like Rustboro…
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Naturally, every Coordinator with dreams of beauty flocked here, eager to display their talent before their idol.
The clock on the wall ticked to 8:58.
Theo was now completely ready.
…
The moment he stepped out of the hotel, he saw the shops lining the streets decorated with Contest posters.
Wallace smiled dazzlingly from each one, with four gilded characters beside him reading "Special Judge."
Many trainers crowded around, taking photos.
A boy in a green vest was livestreaming while holding his phone:
"Look, everyone, do you see this? Wallace's personally signed poster!
This contest is absolutely the highest-tier event ever! My Eevee must win its first ribbon today!"
The Eevee in his arms struck an adorable pose on cue, a pink bow clipped to its ear—drawing a round of delighted cheers from the onlookers.
Theo followed the flow of people toward the Contest Hall.
The venue stood beside the central plaza—an impressive circular structure built of glass and steel.
Its outer walls were adorned with layered, ribbon-like patterns that scattered prismatic colors wherever the sunlight touched, making the entire building resemble a radiant gemstone in bloom.
Rustboro, home to Devon Corporation's headquarters, had grown rapidly.
Its infrastructure ranked among the best in the Hoenn region, second only to the coastal metropolis of Slateport.
Though still slightly behind Slateport's scale and sophistication, Rustboro City's vibrant atmosphere and well-planned layout already showcased its enormous potential as a rising star.
Originally Theo had worried that Wallace's sudden announcement would cause uncontrollable crowds and affect the contest.
But judging from the spacious venue, it was more than capable of handling an influx of visitors.
Outside the hall, the noise was already deafening—trainers, spectators, and even vendors selling "Wallace" themed merchandise filled the area, creating an atmosphere of buzzing excitement.
Inside the hall, a circular stage roughly twenty meters wide occupied the center of a grassy field.
A ring of color-changing lights traced its edges, while massive holographic projectors hung overhead—capable of magnifying a Pokémon's moves dozens of times for breathtaking visual effects.
Stepped seating encircled the arena, and many trainers were already inside.
Some were rehearsing movement interactions with their Pokémon.
Others let their Pokémon gently release small moves to adapt to the environment.
The air was a blend of tension and anticipation.
Groups of trainers chatted excitedly:
"Did you hear? Grace, last year's Sootopolis Contest semifinalist, issued a public statement! She's coming to Rustboro to compete too!"
The shout instantly drew everyone's attention.
"I know her! I watched her battle last year. Her Medicham was absolutely incredible!" someone responded with heartfelt admiration.
"Especially in the second round, she fused Psychic and Fire Punch into that floating flaming lotuses! The way those brilliant fire-lotuses appeared around Medicham's fists… even the entire panel of judges praised her unanimously. I still remember it vividly!"
"That's not all!" another person chimed in, eyes gleaming.
"Armani from Fallarbor Town is here too along with his Flareon! He already has three ribbons, so his strength is nothing to scoff at.
I heard that the moment he found out Wallace would be appearing in person, he changed course immediately, cancelled his trip to Verdanturf, and rushed here overnight!
He's clearly aiming for the ribbon of this event!"
"We're doomed… The competition is way too intense," someone sighed helplessly.
"There are only five ribbons total, and just like that, two top contenders show up."
"It's three contenders."
Someone retorted instantly.
"Did you forget? That streamer who challenged Gym Leader Roxanne the other day, the one whose Feebas Wallace praised on stream for its excellent move-control, apparently signed up too.
That guy won't be easy to deal with either!"
The moment he finished speaking, someone frowned:
"But his Feebas… looks a little too plain.
Yes, it's a shiny variant, prettier than normal Feebas, but compared to all these contestants with gorgeous Pokémon?
I honestly don't think he'll get far."
"Then where does that leave Jenny Oz from Pacifidlog Town and her Jynx?" someone retorted immediately.
"This is a Contest, not a beauty pageant! It's about move combinations and trainer-Pokémon coordination!
If looks alone mattered, Jynx wouldn't even enter!"
"That's not what I meant…"
Standing among the crowd, Theo listened quietly.
He couldn't help thinking to himself:
This Pokémon Contest is full of hidden masters… Feebas and I are in for a real challenge.
…
By 9:30, only thirty minutes remained before the opening.
Theo turned on his streaming equipment.
His first official Contest challenge was about to start.
(End of Chapter)